Employer's Overload of Dade County v. Robinson

The only issue raised in this appeal is whether the judge of compensation claims erred in awarding costs to the claimant. We dismiss the appeal. As long as any other matter is pending before a judge of compensation claims, an order taxing costs is not reviewable, unless appealed as part of an adjudication on the merits. Here, the award of costs was not incidental to an adjudication of the merits of a workers’ compensation claim. The need for a decision on the merits had been obviated by a settlement reached before the merits hearing was scheduled to begin.

In the very order appealed, the judge…