Workers' Compensation
Listed below is McConnaughhay, Coonrod, Pope, Weaver & Stern, P.A.'s workers' compensation case law database. The database dates back until 1971 and includes over 5500 workers' compensation court decisions.
To view the case summaries, select one of the general topics listed below.
Summers v. Blanton
28 FLW D2162
In workers' compensation proceedings, the appellate court has authority under Rule 9.140, Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, to impose sanctions against an attorney for violation of the appellate rules or for filing a frivolous appeal. The rule provides that sanctions may include reprimand, contempt, striking of briefs or pleadings, dismissal of proceedings, costs, attorney's fees or such other sanctions as the court deems appropriate. Court issued a show cause order as to why sanctions should not be imposed against the appellant's attorney. Sanctions were considered based on the delay and dilatory tactics of appellant's attorney resulting in prolonged non-payment of benefits to an elderly and seriously injured claimant. In addition, the court determined that the appellant's attorney should have known when he filed the appeal that the appeal lacked any merit. The court further stated that the appeal was filed in bad faith for the purpose of delaying payments of benefits to the injured worker. Appellant's attorney ordered to pay the claimant's attorney's fee from the attorney's own funds without reimbursement from his client.
