Cases

Claimant suffered accident on the job and filed several petitions for workers’ compensation benefits. Thereafter, a controversy occurred between employer and claimant in regards to a non-workers’ compensation matter which ultimately was settled with the claimant signing a broad general release. Court determined that the release had the effect of settling the claimant’s workers’ compensation claim without any action by the JCC in the workers’ compensation forum. Claimant failed to discuss this unrelated matter with his workers’ compensation attorney but the court concluded that the claimant was placed in the category of a "represented" claimant for purposes of settling the case without the need for a hearing or judge’s approval.