Diaz-Llerena v. Spillis, Candela & Partners, Inc.

In this workers’ compensation case, Claimant appeals an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) granting the Employer/Carrier’s (E/C’s) motion to dismiss his petitions for benefits (PFBs), and dismissing those PFBs with prejudice. The premise of the motion to dismiss is that the parties entered into a “global” settlement agreement — one for which the JCC had already approved the attorney’s fees as required by section 440.20(1l)(c), Florida Statutes — and thus that the E/C’s liability under the Workers’ Compensation Law had been released. Claimant readily admitted the existence of an…