Opinion ID: 2583900
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: CAPA acted reasonably by dismissing Gunter's claims attempting to overturn the C & R.

Text: The superior court's approval of CAPA's decision to dismiss Gunter's claims also does not present a colorable claim of error because CAPA's decision was reasonable. After unsuccessfully attempting to secure representation for Gunter, CAPA stated in a report to the superior court that [t]he fact that no attorney seems interested in representing Mr. Gunter in this matter is evidence that this appeal may be unlikely to bring sufficient financial benefit to Mr. Gunter to justify the expense of pursuing it. If Mr. Gunter is successful in setting aside the compromise[ ] and release, he runs the risk that the ultimate decision could be the same or even less than he has been receiving under the settlement. For this appeal to benefit him, he must prevail in setting aside the agreement and then win substantially more. This result appears unlikely. CAPA appears to be correct that Gunter faced a very real threat that he would receive a lesser award if the C & R was overturned, as Kathy-O-Estates originally claimed that Gunter was entitled to compensation of only $74.99 per week, a claim that was probably correct. Kathy-O-Estates eventually agreed to the weekly compensation rate of $175 to $200 per week specified in the C & R. The reasonableness of CAPA's decision is supported by CAPA's inability to find a lawyer to represent Gunter on a contingency basis. CAPA was also correct in noting, as discussed above, that it was highly unlikely that Gunter would succeed in his novel attempt to gain compensation for the inheritance he believes he would have received but for his injury. We hold that CAPA acted reasonably in exercising its authority to dismiss Gunter's challenge to the C & R. Therefore, we hold that Gunter does not have a colorable claim that the superior court erred by allowing the dismissal of his challenge to the C & R.