Lakeland Highlands Construction Co. v. Casey

BARFIELD, Judge.

In these workers’ compensation cases the employer appeals the orders of the deputy commissioner awarding death benefits to the minor children of the deceased employee and awarding attorney fees to claimants’ attorney based on the employer’s bad faith in failing to pay death benefits. We affirm.

The employer defended against payment of the claims on the grounds that *311the natural minor children of the employee had not been economically dependent on the employee because he had failed to pay court-ordered child support. The deputy commissioner found that there is a conclusive…