9th Circuit Vacates Fee Award for LHWCA Claimant's Attorney as Too Low

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an attorney's fee award for representing a claimant on a successful Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claim did not adequately represent the market rate for attorneys in Portland, Oregon. Case: Shirrod v. OWCP, No. 13-70613, 12/31/2015, published. Facts: Richard Shirrod sustained permanent injuries to his knee and ankle while working for Pacific Rim Environmental Resources. At the time of his injury, Shirrod was working in Oregon on a project to refit two rail cars and a barge to carry solid waste from ocean-going barges...