State, Department of Revenue v. Cowgill

OPINION

EASTAUGH, Justice.

1. INTRODUCTION

The State of Alaska appeals from the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board’s award of attorney’s fees to the claimant, Pat Cowgill. The state argues that the amount of the award was unreasonable, that the board failed to make adequate findings, and that it abused its discretion. The state also requests that we revisit our previous cases dealing with the board’s application of the “contingency factor” in awarding fees.

We conclude that the fee award was not manifestly unreasonable, that the board made adequate findings, and that it did not abuse its…