Heard v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co.

OPINION

OSBORN, Chief Justice.

The only issue on appeal is how should attorney’s fees, advances and expenses, in a workers’ compensation case which has been settled, be divided between two attorneys who represented the claimant. The trial court awarded each attorney his expenses and advances to the client and awarded the entire attorney’s fee to the attorney who represented the client until shortly before settlement., We reverse and remand.

Facts

William Heard injured his back in an on-the-job accident on October 4, 1989. Two months later, he hired Phillip Godwin to represent him in prosecuting…