19 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 159a

Online Reference: FLWSUPP 1903PIERInsurance — Personal injury protection — Denial of benefits — Necessity of valid medical report

UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Florida corporation, Appellant, v. COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER, a/a/o JEAN PIERRE, Appellee. Circuit Court, 11th Judicial Circuit (Appellate) in and for Miami-Dade County. Case No. 09-216 AP. L.C. Case No. 07-7476 CC-26. November 8, 2011. Counsel: Michael J. Neimand, Miami, for Appellant. Christian Carrazana, Miami, for Appellee.

(Before LEBAN, Administrative Judge, and BUTCHKO, Associate Administrative Judge, upon Appellee’s Confession of Error.) Based upon Appellee’s general confession of error,¹ and the authority of United Automobile Insurance Co. v. Sante Fe Medical Center, a/a/o Telmo Lopez, 21 So.3d 60 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009) [34 Fla. L. Weekly D2051b] (en banc), and Partners in Health Chiropractic, a/a/o Neocles Lebrun v. United Automobile Insurance Co., 21 So.3d 858 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2009) [34 Fla. L. Weekly D2177a], we reverse the trial court’s entry of Summary Judgment, and remand this cause to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

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¹Upon request of the Court, Appellee declined to file an amended confession of error specifiying a case or authority upon which its “confession” is based, thus requiring this Court to scour the record and Initial Brief to determine if such a stipulation or agreement with Appellant’s position is justified. It is. However, this appeal has been unduly delayed due to Appellee’s obstinance. It is a basic principle of appellate law that a “confession of error must be sufficient and unequivocal, and be made with proper authority. An appellate court is not bound by the [appellee’s] confession of error.” 5 C.J.S. Appeal and Error § 1059, XVIII. Determination and Disposition of Cause, D. Reversal, § 1059. Confession of Error. Moreover, “if an appellee’s failure to file a position statement in a[n] . . . appeal is regarded as a confession of error, a reversal may result,” [emphasis added]. 5 Am. Jur. 2d Appellate Review, VIII. Appellate Determinations, H. Determination of Appeal, 4. Reversal, § 802, Effect of Stipulation of Parties as to Reversal; Confession of Error, citing, Louisville and Jefferson County Human Relations Commission, ex rel. Shirley Duke and Barbara Jean Carroll, v. Mr. Maid, Inc., 828 S.W.2d 679 (Ky. App. 1992) (“we regard appellee’s failure to file a position statement as a confession of error and reverse the judgment. . .).

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