GIRARDIN v. AN FORT MYERS IMPORTS LLC (2025)

On Motions for Clarification and Rehearing

We grant the parties’ pending motions for clarification and rehearing, withdraw our opinion docketed on May 8, 2024, and substitute the following in its place.

In this workers’ compensation case, Claimant appeals, and the Employer/Carrier (E/C) cross-appeal, an order from the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) to the extent that it denied home modification, awarded attendant care from November 3, 2021, through the date of the final hearing, March 31, 2022, and ruled on the portion of attorney's fees and costs ancillary to these benefits. We set aside as to the award of attendant care (and the related attorney's fees and costs). We affirm without comment the rest of the order.

The JCC awarded Claimant payment for attendant care services provided by her husband during the period of November 3, 2021, to March 31, 2022. The JCC ordered the E/C to pay Claimant's husband for thirty hours per week at the federal minimum wage. The JCC made this award based on a generalized finding that what the husband does for Claimant, “such as carrying her upstairs for her to bathe, qualifies as attendant care services under Florida law.” The JCC, however, did not specify which “services” provided by the husband qualify for compensation, and the E/C argue that some services in fact do not qualify.

The E/C are correct that the JCC erred in its award for nonprofessional attendant care. The JCC could not order compensation under chapter 440, Florida Statutes, for the husband's provision of “nonprofessional attendant care ․ that falls within the scope of household duties and other services normally and gratuitously provided by family members.” § 440.13(1)(b), Fla. Stat. (2020). The testimony demonstrated that much of what the husband now does around the house is what Claimant used to do. Before the accident, Claimant took care of the kids, cooked, cleaned—as the husband put it, “She handled everything.” Post accident, he now does all those chores: cooking, vacuuming, mopping, laundry, and taking care of the kids. Notably, Claimant still can drive and does at times drive the kids and travel to Publix. She also suggested in testimony that a lot of the attendant care that she needs is akin to maid service. The husband does carry Claimant upstairs and bathes her there, and he does transport her to medical visits, which may be compensable as nonprofessional attendant care. The JCC, however, failed to make any findings or otherwise take steps to ensure that the husband was to be paid only for services that are not “within the scope of household duties and other services normally and gratuitously provided by family members.” See id. For that reason, we must vacate the award for the husband's nonattendant care.

Finally, we set aside the ruling on attorney's fees and costs related to the attendant care benefits to the extent that they are affected by our disposition here.

Affirmed in part; set aside in part.

Lewis, Nordby, and Tanenbaum, JJ., concur.

Per Curiam.