Manning v. State ex rel. Wyoming Worker's Compensation Division

LEHMAN, Justice.

This case involves the question of when a hearing examiner acquires jurisdiction to appoint an attorney and award attorney fees in a worker’s compensation case. The district court reversed the hearing examiner’s orders awarding attorney fees, finding that the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) acquires jurisdiction only when 1) an interested party files a written objection to a determination by the Division, and 2) the matter is properly referred to the OAH for resolution in a contested case proceeding. In addition, the district court denied attorney fees incurred in the…