Elder v. West Boca Medical Center

Noretta Elder (appellant) appeals a final order entered by the judge of compensation claims denying her petition for permanent total disability (PTD) benefits, penalties, interest, costs and fees. We affirm without discussion, except to address appellant’s argument that under Home Depot v. Turner, 820 So.2d 1075 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002), an employer/carrier (E/C) seeking to establish proof of a substantial earning capacity in defense to a claim for PTD benefits must specifically plead this as an affirmative defense, or forever waive it.

We do not read Home Depot to create such a pleading…