Opinion ID: 1199761
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: berry case

Text: On June 30, 1987, claimant Kelly Askew (Askew) suffered a work-related back injury during the course of her employment with defendant-employer. She was treated at the expense of the defendant-surety, and released by January 8, 1988, with a one month check-up scheduled. Askew never made the check-up appointment. Askew subsequently injured her back in January 1989, during her employment with another employer in Nevada. On August 20, 1990, she returned to Idaho. At this time, she sought the defendant-surety's permission to have her back reexamined by the same doctor that treated her in 1987. When the request was denied, Askew retained the services of L. Clyel Berry (Berry). Berry obtained authority from the surety for the reexamination. When the surety denied the doctor's request for an MRI, Berry filed an application for hearing. After preliminary discovery, the surety authorized the MRI. As a result of the MRI obtained by Berry, the doctor recommended that claimant finalize her claim, stating that she was stabilized and giving her an impairment rating. Berry negotiated a settlement in the amount of $5,370.00 on Askew's behalf. Berry's contingency fee agreement with claimant provided for attorney fees in the amount of 33 1/3% of benefits obtained plus reimbursement of costs incurred during the representation of claimant. Following submission of the lump sum agreement to the Commission, Berry was advised that the Commission would not approve attorney fees at the 33 1/3% rate, and would only approve fees at a 25% rate. The Commission did not specifically find the fee agreement to be unreasonable. It simply ruled that a fee of 25% was reasonable and appropriate. Berry now appeals. This Court must address the following issues: