ALFRED BOX, PETITIONER,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ET AL., RESPONDENTS

Fla. | 1971-10-06
No. 40697
ROBERTS, C. J., and ERVIN, CARLTON and McCAIN, JJ., concur.
253 So. 2d 860 Florida Supreme Court (1971)

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Synopsis

Alfred Box sought workers' compensation for traumatic interdigital neuromas in both feet, claiming they resulted from workplace injuries in 1964 and 1965. The Florida Supreme Court granted certiorari, quashed the Industrial Relations Commission's order, and reinstated the trial judge's finding that the neuromas were traumatic in origin based on competent and substantial evidence.


Holding

The Court held that competent and substantial evidence supported the trial judge's finding that the neuromas were traumatic in origin, as the record demonstrated trauma causing impaired circulation, nerve root irritation, and development of traumatic interdigital neuromas.


Headnotes

[1] A finding of traumatic origin for an injury is supported by competent, substantial evidence when the record demonstrates trauma caused impaired circulation, leading to ne…

[2] An industrial relations commission may err in quashing a compensation order if the order of the judge of industrial claims is supported by competent, substantial evidence…

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Key Quotes

“The issue for determination is whether there is competent and substantial evidence which accords with logic and reason to support the finding by the trial court that claimant's interdigital neuromas were traumatic in origin.”

States the central legal question regarding the evidentiary standard for workers' compensation claims.

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Facts & Procedural History

In 1964, Box was injured when a truck canopy fell on and crushed his left leg, and a co-employee further crushed it, severing his Achilles tendon. In …

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Opinion of the Court
ADKINS, Judge.

ADKINS, Judge.

By petition for writ of certiorari, we are asked to review an order of the Industrial Relations Commission quashing the compensation order of the Judge of Industrial Claims and dismissing the claim on the ground that the order of the trial judge was not in accord with the essential requirements of law and not supported by competent, substantial evidence which accords with logic and reason.

Petitioner-claimant was injured by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment with Respondent in 1964. While he was loading a truck, the truck canopy turned over, fell on and crushed his left leg. Simultaneously, a co-employee fell and further crushed claimant’s left leg. Claimant suffered avulsion of the Achilles tendon on the left at approximately the junction where the muscle joins the tendon.

Claimant was again injured by accident in the course of his employment with Respondent in 1965. While shoveling and spreading limerock, claimant felt a sudden pain in his right foot which, to him, felt as though his foot had been struck with an ice pick.

The Judge of Industrial Claims found that as a result of the 1964 injury, claimant developed a traumatic interdigital neu-roma of the left foot which was excised by surgery on May 12, 1969. He further found that, as a result of the 1965 injury, the claimant developed a traumatic interdig-ital neuroma of the right foot which was excised by surgery in 1967, and, upon redevelopment, was again excised by surgery in 1969.

The issue for determination is whether there is competent and substantial evidence which accords with logic and reason to support the finding by the trial court that claimant’s interdigital neuromas were traumatic in origin. The record demonstrates that claimant suffered trauma, which caused an impaired circulation, all of which caused an irritation of the nerve roots, which developed into traumatic in-terdigital neuromas, which in turn caused the claimant constant pain and aggravation, especially in manipulating the brakes, clutch *861and gas pedal of the truck that he drove at work.

Certiorari is granted and the order of the Industrial Relations Commission is quashed. U. S. Casualty Co. v. Maryland Casualty Co., 55 So.2d 741 (Fla.1951); Hardy v. City of Tarpon Springs, 81 So.2d 503 (Fla.1955); Vandiver v. Watford, 178 So.2d 195 (Fla.1965); Hammersla v. Price, 190 So.2d 765 (Fla.1966); Fleischer’s, Inc. v. Bryant, 196 So.2d 418 (Fla.1967); and Cornaros v. Carillon Hotel, 235 So.2d 478 (Fla.1970).

The cause is remanded to the Industrial Relations Commission with directions to reinstate the order of the Judge of Industrial Claims.

It is so ordered.

ROBERTS, C. J., and ERVIN, CARLTON and McCAIN, JJ., concur.


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