Steiner v. E.J. Bartells Co.

The question in this workers’ compensation case is whether the Workers’ Compensation Board (Board) has the authority to order claimant’s attorney to pay an unpaid lien amount out of the attorney’s personal funds when the attorney had already disbursed the entire third-party judgment proceeds to claimant, SAIF Corporation (SAIF), and to himself for the costs and attorney fees of the third-party judgment. We hold that the Board is not authorized by statute to order such a payment. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the Board.

The facts are undisputed. Claimant suffered an injury in 1984. SAIF…