Opinion ID: 1153057
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the commission acted within its authority in approving the worker's attorney a lien against the award of medical expenses.

Text: The provider asserts that the Commission acted beyond its authority in approving the contingent fee of the worker's attorney as a lien against the award of the medical expenses. We disagree. In Curr v. Curr, 124 Idaho 686, 864 P.2d 132 (1993), the Court pointed out: As a creature of legislative invention, the Commission may only act pursuant to an enumerated power, whether it be directly statutory or based upon rules and regulations properly issued by the Commission under I.C. § 72-508. Id. at 691, 864 P.2d at 137. I.C. § 72-803 requires that the Commission approve claims of attorneys in workers' compensation cases. I.C. § 72-508 grants the Commission authority to promulgate and adopt reasonable rules and regulations for effecting the purposes of the workers' compensation act. I.C. § 72-508. A Commission rule provides that the Commission may approve a charging lien for attorney fees against a claimant's right to any compensation under the Workers' Compensation law, in specified circumstances. IDAPA 17.02.08.033(c). The Commission rule states that for a case in which a hearing has been held and briefs submitted, a thirty percent fee agreement is reasonable. IDAPA 17.02.08.033(e)(ii). This rule, promulgated by the Commission pursuant to I.C. § 72-508, authorizes the Commission to approve the lien of the workers' attorney against the award to the worker.