Tatum v. Tatum

OP ALA, Justice:

This case presents four issues: [1] Did the trial tribunal use the wrong criteria in determining the identity of statutory beneficiaries of a death claim? [2] Was the legal widow entitled to an award as decedent’s deserted spouse? [3] Did the trial tribunal correctly deny death benefits to the person who sought an award for herself as the common-law wife and for her two children as dependent stepchildren of the deceased worker? [4] Does the amount of fee awarded to counsel for a successful claimant present a reviewable issue before us? We answer the first and fourth questions…