Kordon v. Mercer Industries

This is a workers’ compensation case concerning attorney fees.

ORS 656.382(2) provides:

“If a * * *, request for review, * * * is initiated by an * * * insurer, and the * * *, board * * * finds that the compensation awarded to a claimant should not be * * * reduced, the * * * insurer shall be required to pay the claimant * * * a reasonable attorney fee in an amount set by the * * * board * *

The issue in this case is whether the statute requires the Workers’ Compensation Board to award attorney fees to a claimant who successfully defends against an insurer’s response to a request for review…