A claimant who loses a workers’ compensation case may appeal a compensation order, entered by the workers’ compensation judge. The “appellant,” asks the appellate court to review the trial judge’s rulings and reverse those rulings to find in their favor. As set forth in Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.180, these are the basic steps an appellant must follow to take an appeal:
2. An appellant who wishes to appeal, but does not have the money to pay the filing fee, may file a “verified petition or motion for indigency” in the trial judge’s office with the “notice of appeal.”
3. The appellant must also file “designations” which tell the clerk which items should be in the “record” that will be reviewed by the appellate court.
4. An appellant who does not have the money to pay for the cost of preparing the record must file with the trial judge’s office a “verified petition” or motion to be relieved of the costs of preparing the record on appeal and a “sworn financial affidavit.”
5. The appellant will then file the “initial brief,” and after the “appellee” files an “answer brief,” the appellant will file the “reply brief.”
