Rea v. 7-11 Stores/Southland Corp.

BENTON, Judge.

In awarding claimant’s counsel an attorney’s fee under section 440.34(1), Florida Statutes (1985), the judge of compensation claims concluded that the parties’ stipulation as to entitlement, approved by order entered August 31, 1995, limited consideration of “benefits secured” to moneys that had already been paid to the claimant or on her behalf. We agree with appellant’s contention that the stipulation will not bear this construction. On that ground, we vacate the order awarding attorney’s fees.

Before the fee award under review, claimant’s counsel had already, in accordance…