Opinion ID: 1244808
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Baker is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.

Text: Baker has asked the Court to award him attorney fees on appeal. Idaho Code § 72-804 permits any court presiding in a worker's compensation case to award attorney fees to a claimant if the court determines that an employer or surety has contested a claim for compensation without reasonable ground. Baker asserts attorney fees should be awarded because Louisiana Pacific's appeal was frivolous. We agree. The employer's arguments as to the existence of the impairment and the extent of Baker's disability were nothing but efforts to have this Court reweigh evidence on appeal. Further, Louisiana Pacific's contention that I.C. § 72-403 barred recovery by Baker is utterly without merit for the reasons explained above. Under these circumstances, an award of attorney fees to Baker is appropriate under I.C. § 72-804.