Case Name: In the Matter of the Arbitration between Country-Wide Insurance Company, Appellant, and Roberto Barrios, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1977-11-15
Citations: 43 N.Y.2d 685
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Arbitration between Country-Wide Insurance Company, Appellant, and Roberto Barrios, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 43
Pages: 685–686

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Arbitration between Country-Wide Insurance Company, Appellant, and Roberto Barrios, Respondent.
Argued October 6, 1977;
decided November 15, 1977
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Bernard Samuels and Eric M. Alderman for appellant.
Maurice Chayt for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
Order affirmed, with costs. Attorneys' fees allowable under the regulations (11 NYCRR 65.6 [g] [1]) of the Comprehensive Automobile Insurance Reparations Act (Insurance Law, art 18) are "based upon the reasonable value of the legal work performed in obtaining the recovery" and not the amount in controversy. It is the arbitrator who is empowered to evaluate legal services (Insurance Law, § 675).
There is nothing in the record to warrant disturbing the award (cf. Matter of Torano [MVAIC], 15 NY2d 882, affg 19 AD2d 356).
Chief Judge Breitel and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Cooke concur in memorandum.
Order affirmed.