BRB No. 02-0673
KENNETH L. SKIDMORE
Claimant-Respondent
v.
LOCKHEED
MISSILE AND
SPACE
COMPANY
and
ACE/USA
Employer/Carrier-
Respondents
WAUSAU INSURANCE
COMPANY
Carrier-Petitioner
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
DATE ISSUED:
06/20/2003 ISSUED:
JUN 20, 2003
DECISION
and ORDER
Appeal of the Supplemental Decision and Order Awarding Attorney Fees
of David W. Di Nardi, Administrative Law Judge, United States Department
of Labor.
John M. Schwartz (Blumenthal, Schwartz, & Garfinkel, P.A.), Titusville,
Florida, for claimant.
Kimberly A. Wilson (Sharp & Gay, P.A.), Jacksonville, Florida, for
employer and Wausau Insurance Company.
Before: DOLDER, Chief Administrative Appeals Judge, SMITH and HALL,
Administrative Appeals Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Wausau Insurance Company (Wausau) appeals the Supplemental Decision and Order
Awarding Attorney Fees (2000-LHC-0786, 2000-LHC-3418) of Administrative Law Judge
David W. Di Nardi rendered on a claim filed pursuant to the provisions of the
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C.§901
et seq. (the Act). The amount of an attorney's fee award is
discretionary and may be set aside only if the challenging party shows it to be
arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or not in accordance with law.
See, e.g., Muscella v. Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., 12 BRBS 272 (1980).
Claimant sustained a herniated disc in his low back as a result of an accident, which occurred while he was
working for employer on July 6, 1992. Wausau, the responsible carrier at the time of this injury, voluntarily paid
temporary total disability benefits and medical benefits during claimant's absence from work. On March 7, 1996,
claimant sustained work-related injuries to his left arm, left shoulder and cervical area. ACE/USA, the carrier at
risk at the time of this accident, voluntarily paid periods of temporary total disability benefits and medical benefits
related to these injuries. Claimant however sought additional disability compensation, as well as authorization
for a physiatrist and a psychiatrist to treat injuries related to both accidents. Hearing Transcript (HT) at 34.
In his decision, the administrative law judge ordered Wausau to pay temporary total disability benefits "for
those days or hours claimant was unable to work between July 6, 1992, and March 7, 1996," and medical benefits
for treatment related to claimant's low back problems, and ordered ACE/USA to pay "any compensation benefits
payable to claimant, as well as the medical bills," related to the cervical injury sustained on March 7, 1996.
Decision and Order at 34. In addition, the administrative law judge ordered Wausau to pay all medical expenses
related to the diagnosis and evaluation of, and treatment and counseling for, claimant's psychological condition
between July 6, 1992, and March 6, 1996, and that thereafter ACE/USA is responsible for said expenses.
Subsequently, claimant's counsel submitted a petition requesting an attorney's fee of $29,707.13,
representing 124 hours of attorney time at an hourly rate of $225, seven hours of paralegal time at an hourly rate
of $85, and $1,212.13 in expenses.[1] Both carriers submitted objections to the fee
petition. In his Supplemental Decision and Order Awarding Attorney Fees, the
administrative law judge awarded the requested attorney's fee in its entirety.
Specifically, he awarded an attorney's fee totaling $29,707.13, representing 68.75
hours of attorney work exclusive to ACE/USA; 50 hours of attorney work exclusive
to Wausau; and 5.25 hours of attorney work, seven hours of paralegal work, and
$1,212.13 in costs to be split evenly between the two carriers.
On appeal, Wausau challenges only the administrative law judge's determination that it is liable for an
attorney's fee under Section 28(b) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. §928(b).[2]
Wausau contends that as the issues decided by the administrative law judge with regard to the July 6, 1992,
injury were not the subject of an informal conference before the district director, it cannot be held liable for
claimant's attorney's fee pursuant to Section 28(b), citing Staftex Staffing v. Director, OWCP, 237
F.3d 404, 34 BRBS 44(CRT), modified in part on reh'g, 237 F.3d 409, 34 BRBS 105(CRT) (5th Cir.
2000), in which the Fifth Circuit held that an informal conference is a prerequisite to fee liability under
Section 28(b). Claimant responds, urging affirmance.[3]
In the instant case, the administrative law judge considered but rejected Wausau's contention that
claimant's counsel is not entitled to an attorney's fee because claimant did not first seek resolution through an
informal conference. Supplemental Decision and Order at 2. Specifically, the administrative law judge
determined that contrary to Wausau's assertion, claimant's counsel is entitled to an attorney's fee award "as
this matter was brought and handled in accordance with our usual procedures." Id. The administrative
law judge observed that "[a]fter the informal conference, the matter remained unresolved and was transferred
to the [Office of Administrative Law Judges] for a hearing." Id. at 2-3.
Under Section 28(b), 33 U.S.C. §928(b), when an employer voluntarily pays or tenders benefits
and thereafter a controversy arises over additional compensation due, the employer will be liable for an
attorney's fee if the claimant succeeds in obtaining greater
compensation than that paid or tendered by the employer.[4]
See James J. Flanagan Stevedores, Inc. v. Gallagher, 219 F.3d 426, 34 BRBS 35(CRT) (5th
Cir. 2000); Wilkerson v. Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc., 125 F.3d 904, 31 BRBS 150(CRT) (5th Cir. 1997).
Initially, we observe that the Board, following the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit in National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. v. United States Department of Labor, 606 F.2d 875, 11
BRBS 68 (9th Cir. 1979), has long held that a written recommendation by the district director following an
informal conference is not a precondition to attorney's fee liability pursuant to Section 28(b), as the purpose of
Section 28(b) is fulfilled if claimant succeeds in obtaining greater compensation through formal proceedings
than employer voluntarily paid or tendered. Caine v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority, 19 BRBS 180 (1986). Thus, we hold that the administrative law judge did not err in holding
employer liable in accordance with the usual procedures for assessing liability for an attorney's fee under
Section 28(b) of the Act. Id. Additionally, we note that the Fifth Circuit precedent relied on by
employer does not lead to a different result based on the facts of this case.[5]
In Pool Co. v. Cooper, 274 F.3d 173, 35 BRBS 109(CRT) (5th Cir. 2001), and Staftex,
237 F.3d 409, 34 BRBS 105(CRT), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that an
informal conference is an absolute prerequisite to fee liability under Section 28(b). Specifically, in
Staftex, the Fifth Circuit stated that Section 28(b)
permits claimants to obtain attorney's fees only where: (1) the [district director] has held an
informal conference on the disputed issue; (2) the [district director] issues a written
recommendation on that issue; and (3) the employer refuses to accept the recommendation.
Staftex, 237 F.3d at 409, 34 BRBS at 47(CRT). The Fifth Circuit further stated in Cooper,
that "[u]nder the law of our Circuit, [the lack of an informal conference] poses an absolute bar to an award of
attorney's fees under ' 28(b)." Cooper, 274 F.3d at 186, 35 BRBS at 119(CRT).
In contrast to Cooper, an informal conference was, in fact, held in this case on March 20, 1995,
as the administrative law judge noted. See Supplemental Decision and Order at 2. Wausau, however,
maintains that the sole issue in controversy at that time involved the selection of claimant's first choice of
physicians and that it acceded to the district director's recommendation. While the district director's
recommendation, "that Dr. Newman be authorized as the claimant's initial free choice of physicians," Wausau
Exhibit (WX) 9, is included in the record, and it appears as though employer did, in fact, accept this
recommendation, it is apparent that issues remained in controversy as the case was forwarded to the
administrative law judge for a hearing.[6] Claimant's pre-hearing
statement, dated October 26, 1998, notified employer and Wausau of his intent to raise issues regarding
"claimant's entitlement to medical care, permanent total disability benefits and/or vocational retraining;
attorney's fees, costs, interest & penalties, loss of earning and lost earnings capacity," related to the July 6,
1992, work accident. ALJX 14. A formal hearing in this matter was initially set for April 16, 1999, but
Administrative Law Judge Linda S. Chapman issued an order of continuance on April 12, 1999, pending
receipt of settlement paperwork, based on notification from claimant, employer, and Wausau that they had
reached an agreement with regard to the outstanding issues related to the July 6, 1992, injury. ALJX 6. The
parties, however, never submitted this documentation and so Judge Chapman reinstated the case for a hearing
by order dated June 16, 1999. ALJX 7. By order dated December 15, 1999, Judge Chapman remanded the
case to the district director, based on claimant's request, "for consolidation of the two outstanding claims, and
further proceedings as appropriate." ALJX 11. There is no evidence in the record regarding whether a second
informal conference was held before the district director or what procedures occurred before him following
remand. The case was, however, returned to the Office of Administrative Law Judges on or around April 12,
2000. See ALJX 15. Following several additional continuances, a formal hearing was held on March
8, 2001. ALJX 19-25.
At the formal hearing, claimant's counsel stated that he continued to seek authorization, from both
carriers, for a psychiatrist and a physiatrist, as well as certain disability benefits related to both work-related
accidents. HT at 34-35. Wausau's counsel stated that it refused to authorize a psychiatrist for claimant as it
believed that claimant's psychiatric condition is entirely related to the second accident, at which time Wausau
was no longer the responsible carrier. HT at 36. In short, Wausau's controversion was based on its position
that it had completely fulfilled its obligation for disability and medical benefits related to the July 6, 1992,
accident. HT at 40. The administrative law judge held Wausau liable for additional disability and medical
benefits.
The instant case is akin to Gallagher, 219 F.3d 426, 34 BRBS 35(CRT). In
Gallagher, the employer, as in the instant case, conceded that an informal conference was held, but
contended that the issues on which claimant prevailed before the administrative law judge were not addressed
at the informal conference. As employer did not offer any evidence of the substance of the district director's
recommendation, and claimant obtained greater compensation than employer paid by virtue of the
administrative law judge's decision, the Fifth Circuit held that employer is liable for claimant's attorney's fee
pursuant to Section 28(b). Employer has put forth some evidence of the district director's initial
recommendation. However, as that document is incomplete, it cannot be discerned as to what, if any, other
issues were raised at that time. See n.6, supra. Thus, as in Gallagher, the record is
not clear as to the recommendations made by the district director pursuant to the informal conference. It is,
however, clear from the record that following the informal conference a number of issues, most importantly
claimant's entitlement to additional disability and medical benefits related to the July 6, 1992, accident,
remained in dispute requiring resolution before an administrative law judge, see HT at 34-40;
Decision and Order at 2, and that the administrative law judge awarded additional benefits over those which
were voluntarily paid by employer and Wausau. Thus, following an informal conference, claimant used the
services of an attorney to successfully recover an award of additional compensation.[7] We therefore reject Wausau's contention that the requirements of Section 28(b) were not met.
Gallagher, 219 F.3d 426, 34 BRBS 35(CRT). As the administrative law judge properly held Wausau
liable for claimant's attorney's fee, see id.; Caine, 19 BRBS 180, and as Wausau does not contest the
amount of the fee award, the administrative law judge's fee award is affirmed.
Accordingly, the administrative law judge's Supplemental Decision and Order Awarding Attorney
Fees is affirmed.
SO ORDERED.
_______________________________
NANCY S. DOLDER, Chief
Administrative Appeals Judge
_______________________________
ROY P. SMITH
Administrative Appeals Judge
_______________________________
BETTY JEAN HALL
Administrative Appeals Judge
To Top of Document
Footnotes.
1)Claimant's counsel apportioned the requested fee between the two carriers as follows:
78.25 hours of attorney work for which ACE/USA is liable as the responsible carrier at the time of claimant's
injury sustained on March 7, 1996; 40.5 hours of attorney work for which Wausau is liable as the responsible
carrier at the time claimant sustained his back injury on July 6, 1992; and 5.25 hours of shared attorney work
for work related to both injuries. He did not specifically allocate the paralegal hours or the costs between the
two injuries.
Back to Text
2) The administrative law judge did not delineate the statutory basis for his award of an
attorney's fee, although Wausau assumes, based on its actions that it accepted liability for the July 6, 1992,
accident at the outset and voluntarily paid benefits in this case, that Section 28(a) is inapplicable. 33 U.S.C.
§928(a). Given the administrative law judge's consideration and rejection of Wausau's argument
regarding the applicability of Section 28(b), the award of an attorney's fee was ordered pursuant that specific
provision. Supplemental Decision and Order at 2.
Back to Text
3)Claimant filed a motion to dismiss Wausau's appeal as untimely. Wausau responded to
claimant's motion to dismiss in its brief in support of its appeal. The Board, by Order dated October 18, 2002,
denied claimant's motion. Skidmore v. Lockheed Missile & Space Co., BRB No. 02-0673 (Oct. 18,
2002) (unpub. Order).
Back to Text
4)Section 28(b) provides, in relevant part:
If the employer or carrier pays or tenders payment of compensation without an award pursuant
to section 914(a) and (b) of this title, and thereafter a controversy develops over the amount of
additional compensation, if any, to which the employee may be entitled, the deputy
commissioner or Board shall set the matter for an informal conference and following such
conference the deputy commissioner or Board shall recommend in writing a disposition of the
controversy. If the employer or carrier refuse [sic] to accept such written recommendation,
within fourteen days after its receipt by them, they shall pay or tender to the employee in writing
the additional compensation, if any, to which they believe the employee is entitled. If the
employee refuses to accept such payment or tender of compensation and thereafter utilizes the
services of an attorney at law, and if the compensation thereafter awarded is greater than the
amount paid or tendered by the employer or carrier, a reasonable attorney's fee based solely
upon the difference between the amount awarded and the amount tendered or paid shall be
awarded in addition to the amount of compensation.
Back to Text
5)We note that this case does not arise within the jurisdiction of the Fifth Circuit, but
rather within the jurisdiction of the Eleventh Circuit, which has not spoken on this issue. The Board therefore
is not, as argued by Wausau, constrained to follow the line of precedent set by Staftex and Pool
Co. v. Cooper, 274 F.3d 173, 35 BRBS 109(CRT) (5th Cir. 2001). Nevertheless, as discussed herein, the
instant case is factually distinguished from Staftex, and is analogous to the Fifth Circuit's decision in
Gallagher.
Back to Text
6)Wausau Exhibit 9 consists of only one page on which the recommendation of the
district director is included. Absent from this page is any statement of the issues brought before the district
director, and/or the identification or signature of the presiding district director.
Back to Text
7) We note, moreover, that employer and Wausau had ample opportunity for additional
informal proceedings both prior to the case's initial referral and during the period of time that the case was
pending before the district director as a result of Judge Chapman's remand order dated December 15, 1999.
The record conclusively establishes that these issues could not be resolved informally and required findings by
an administrative law judge. Employer and Wausau have thus waived their right to rely on the absence of an
informal conference on specific issues in an attempt to absolve them of fee liability when they unsuccessfully
contested claimant's claim at the administrative law judge level.
Back to Text
NOTE: This is an UNPUBLISHED LHCA Document.
To Top of Document