Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty P.C. v. Indiana Insurance

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

What fee must an employer or its worker’s compensation insurance carrier pay the attorney who represents an injured employee in a suit against third-party tort-feasors? The Indiana law firm of Span- gler, Jennings & Dougherty appears to desire one-third of the amount already paid by the carrier, plus one-third of the amount collected from third-party tortfea-sors but not reimbursed to the carrier, plus one-third of future medical expenses the carrier would have paid but for the tort recovery. We conclude otherwise.

I. Factual Background and Procedural History

In December…