Opinion
No. SC95925.
Opinion filed February 22, 2001.
Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal — Certified Great Public Importance First District — Case No. 1D98-3908.
Nancy A Lauten of Fowler, White, Gillen, Boggs, Villareal Banker, P.A., Tampa, Florida, for Petitioners.
Randall O. Reder, Tampa, Florida, and Thomas Cassidy, Lakeland, Florida, for Respondent
We have for review a decision on the following question of great public importance certified by the First District Court of Appeal in Department of Transportation v. Hogan, 24 Fla. L. Weekly D1507 (Fla. 1st DCA June 22, 1999):
WHERE AN EMPLOYER TAKES A WORKERS' COMPENSATION OFFSET UNDER SECTION 440.20(15), FLORIDA STATUTES (1985), AND INITIALLY INCLUDES SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PAID UNDER SECTION 440.15(1)(e)(1), FLORIDA STATUTES (1985), IS THE EMPLOYER ENTITLED TO RECALCULATE THE OFFSET BASED ON THE YEARLY 5% INCREASE IN SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS?
We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. For the reasons expressed in City of Clearwater v. Acker, 755 So.2d 597 (Fla. 1999), we answer the certified question in the negative and approve the First District's decision in this case.
It is so ordered.
Wells, C.J., and Shaw, Harding, Anstead, Pariente and Lewis, JJ., Concur.