Opinion

Mercer Industries v. Rose

  • 103 Or. App. 96
  • 795 P.2d 615
  • 1990 Ore. App. LEXIS 905
Court
Court of Appeals of Oregon
Filed
Aug 8, 1990
Status
Published
Author
Edmonds
On the bench
Graber, Riggs, Edmonds
Cited by
3 cases
Authority
More cited than 57.2%

The opinion

*98

EDMONDS, J.

Petitioner moves for reconsideration of our opinion in

Mercer Industries v. Rose,

100 Or App 252 , 785 P2d 385 (1990). We held that the Board erred when it refused to award attorney fees to claimant after claimant actively litigated the issue of responsibility. Petitioner argues that claimant is not entitled to an employer-paid attorney fee, because his right to compensation was never in jeopardy.

Claimant’s entitlement to receive compensation was resolved before the hearing when an order of responsibility under

former

ORS 656.307,

1

was issued. ORS 656.386(1) provides, in pertinent part:

“In all cases involving accidental injuries where a claimant finally prevails in an appeal to the Court of Appeals or petition for review to the Supreme Court from an order or decision

denying the claim for compensation,

the court shall allow a reasonable attorney fee to the claimant’s attorney. In such rejected cases where the claimant prevails finally in a hearing before the referee or in a review by the board itself, then the referee or board shall allow a reasonable attorney fee.” (Emphasis supplied.)

Because claimant did not seek review from an order denying compensation, he is not entitled to attorney fees under ORS 656.386(1).

Shoulders v. SAIF,

300 Or 606, 611 , 716 P2d 751 (1986). To the extent that

SAIF v. Phipps,

85 Or App 436 , 737 P2d 131 (1987), is inconsistent with this opinion, it is overruled.

Motion for reconsideration allowed; former opinion modified to affirm on cross-petition and adhered to as modified.

1

ORS 656.307 was amended in 1987, after the hearing in this case, to include a provision for award of attorney fees in responsibility hearings.

See

ORS 656.307(5).

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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