What the panel ordered
Petition dismissed as premature; matter returned to trial level for consideration as petition to set aside the Awardp. 1
Applicant seeks reconsideration of the Award issued by the WCJ on October 18, 2023, approving stipulated settlement agreements. The WCJ issued a Report and Recommendation recommending denial. The petition is dismissed as premature.
This docket was decided more than once. Shown here is the latest released decision; we also hold October 28, 2024.
What was disputed, and how it came out
Each issue the panel decided, with the reasoning it gave. An outcome is what this panel did on this record — not a rule, and not a prediction.
Applicant contends WCJ erred in awarding 15% fees when he had a 9-12% agreement with prior counsel; no hearing held on understanding of fees in underlying cases.
From the decision · page 1Applicant contends that he signed a fee agreement for attorney’s fees in the 9% to 12% range with prior counsel in 2010 and thus the WCJ erred in awarding 15% for attorney fees in his cases-in-chief.
WCJ approved stipulations without hearing; applicant's testimony calls into question his understanding of the 15% fee term.