Court Opinion

ID: 9731973
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 16:03:17.646905+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:22.249743
License: Public Domain

PELLEGRINI, Judge,
concurring.
I concur with the majority that medical expenses are included as a part of the amount against which attorney’s fees can be calculated. We have held that such fees are permissible, no matter who is required to pay the employer, because of unreasonable contest, Wommer v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Lycoming County), 84 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 275, 479 A.2d 661 (1984), or by the claimant. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board v. General Machine Products Co., 24 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 95, 353 A.2d 911 (1976).
*263Troubling is who represents claimant, where, as here, claimant’s counsel is seeking an increase in his fee which the claimant, rather than the employer, is the one obligated to pay. I am uncomfortable that the claimant’s attorney is seeking to have us reverse both the referee’s and the Board’s decision, arguing that his client should pay a greater fee, while the employer’s counsel, who is not at risk to pay the fee, is arguing on behalf of the claimant.1
Upon remand, at the minimum, claimant should be informed of the potential conflict and informed that he may wish to employ an attorney to advise him of the reasonableness of the fees sought by his counsel.

. There may not be a potential conflict if claimant’s counsel had entered into a separate agreement with the medical provider to reimburse it for fees collected.