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Dionel Rodriguez v. IPC International Corporation and Liberty Mutual

Citation: Not availableDocket: 17-0210

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida; August 6, 2017; Florida; State Appellate Court

Original Court Document: View Document

Narrative Opinion Summary

Dionel Rodriguez filed a petition for a Writ of Certiorari against IPC International Corporation and Liberty Mutual regarding an order that denied his motion to determine his competency following an accident on January 22, 2012. The District Court of Appeal, First District of Florida, dismissed the petition, with Judges Lewis and Winsor concurring. Judge Wetherell concurred with additional comments, emphasizing that Rodriguez did not demonstrate the irreparable harm necessary for certiorari review. Even if such harm had been established, the petition would still have been denied. Wetherell noted that the judge of compensation claims (JCC) correctly applied the law and concluded that evidence indicated Rodriguez was malingering and feigning his mental condition. He asserted that the arguments presented in the petition amounted to a request for the court to reweigh evidence, which is not within the court's role in extraordinary writ proceedings.

Legal Issues Addressed

Assessment of Malingering in Workers' Compensation Claims

Application: The judge of compensation claims determined that the petitioner was malingering, which influenced the decision to deny the motion to determine competency.

Reasoning: Wetherell noted that the judge of compensation claims (JCC) correctly applied the law and concluded that evidence indicated Rodriguez was malingering and feigning his mental condition.

Role of Appellate Court in Reviewing Evidence

Application: The appellate court does not reweigh evidence during certiorari review. The petition was dismissed because it sought for the court to reweigh evidence, which is outside the scope of the court's role in such proceedings.

Reasoning: He asserted that the arguments presented in the petition amounted to a request for the court to reweigh evidence, which is not within the court's role in extraordinary writ proceedings.

Standard for Certiorari Review

Application: The court requires a demonstration of irreparable harm to consider a petition for certiorari. In this case, the petitioner failed to demonstrate such harm, leading to the dismissal of the petition.

Reasoning: Judge Wetherell concurred with additional comments, emphasizing that Rodriguez did not demonstrate the irreparable harm necessary for certiorari review.