Opinion ID: 1275934
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Reimbursement for Travel Costs to Attend an Appellate Proceeding, Prehearing Conferences, and Depositions

Text: Hodges challenges the Board's denial of reimbursement for his travel to the superior court hearings, three pre-hearing conferences, and medical depositions. He argues that he qualified for reimbursement of these expenses under 8 AAC 45.180(f). [10] Subsection (a) of 8 AAC 45.180 states that [t]his section does not apply to fees incurred in appellate proceedings. The regulation does not mention costs, but such an interpretation would not be unreasonable. As Alaska Constructors contends, Alaska Appellate Rule 508(d) governs the award of costs associated with appellate proceedings in the superior court. [11] Therefore, the Board did not abuse its discretion when it denied Hodges's claim for reimbursement for travel expenses to attend appellate hearings in the superior court. The Board's decision to deny travel reimbursement for Hodges's attendance at three pre-conference hearings was based upon the Board's reasonable interpretation of existing regulations. Subsection (f)(13) of 8 AAC 45.180 provides that in the Board's discretion, reasonable travel costs incurred by an applicant to attend a hearing will be awarded if the board finds that the applicant's attendance is necessary. In Hodges IV, the Board found that Hodges's physical attendance at the prehearing was not necessary. Having reviewed the record, we conclude that the Board's finding on this issue was not erroneous. Finally, Hodges challenges the Board's denial of his claim for reimbursement for travel to medical depositions. Subsection (g) of 8 AAC 45.180 generally provides that costs incurred for travel to depositions may only be awarded if attendance at the deposition is reasonable. Before determining whether to reimburse Hodges for his travel costs, the Board in Hodges IV requested that Hodges submit a list of depositions for which he claimed compensation and a description of his participation and the reasons for his attendance. Hodges provided this list, the necessary discussion, and an introduction stating that the total costs for all depositions attended probably does not total $200. However, noting that Hodges had failed to itemize the travel costs and produce an affidavit stating that the costs were incurred in connection with his depositions, as required by 8 AAC 45.180(f), the Board denied Hodges's request. In Hodges IV, the Board requested only that Hodges submit a list of depositions and a description of his participation, without mention of the regulatory requirement that Hodges submit itemized costs and an affidavit. Hodges complied with this request. Given the specificity of its earlier order and Hodges's subsequent compliance, the Board should have provided Hodges with notice and an additional opportunity to satisfy the requirements of 8 AAC 45.180(f) by submitting the necessary itemization and affidavit. We therefore remand this issue to the Board to allow Hodges to submit a list of travel costs in accordance with the regulation. The Board should determine whether Hodges's attendance was reasonable and hence compensable.