Opinion ID: 2633465
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scope of the Industrial Commission's Review of Attorney Fees

Text: The Industrial Commission is empowered by statute to issue rules and regulations necessary to accomplish the purpose of the Worker's Compensation Act, I.C. § 72-508; Rhodes, 125 Idaho at 141, 868 P.2d at 469, which is to provide sure and certain relief for injured workmen and their families and dependents . . . I.C. § 72-201. Idaho Code § 72-803 grants the Commission the authority to `approve' claims for attorney fees. Rhodes, 125 Idaho at 141, 868 P.2d at 469. As the Commission's authority is a creation of statute, the Commission may only act pursuant to an enumerated power. Curr, 124 Idaho at 691, 864 P.2d at 137. The Industrial Commission's mandate over worker's compensation cases is limited to those claims brought by worker's compensation claimants against employers or an employer's surety. Owsley v. Idaho Indus. Comm'n, 141 Idaho 129, 134, 106 P.3d 455, 460 (2005). The Commission was acting within its powers when it ruled that Pena forfeited his fees earned in the worker's compensation action. See Rhodes, 125 Idaho at 141, 868 P.2d at 469. The Commission, however, was acting outside its powers when it ordered Pena to forfeit his fees for services separate from Cheung's claims before the Commission. Included in the Industrial Commission's forfeiture of fees were the $6,665.47 attorney fee adjustment from Cheung's $25,000 settlement between Cheung and the driver's surety, $3000 which was a result of the payment by Cheung's insurance for first party medical coverage as a result of the accident, as well as the $1,417.50 payment of Cynthia Woolley's fees for an appearance on behalf of Cheung for ICF funds. Although those fees were for services connected with the accident that caused Cheung's injuries, they were not incurred as part of Cheung's worker's compensation claim. As a result, consideration of those fees was outside the Industrial Commission's jurisdiction. See Owsley, 141 Idaho at 134, 106 P.3d at 460.