Department Significantly Increases Attorneys' Fees in Contested Claims

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents has posted updates to maximum weekly benefits, cost-of-living adjustments and other payments, including a significant increase in attorneys' fees. In a bulletin last week, the department noted that new rates for attorneys' fees, as required by state law for a range of services, have increased by more than 70%, starting Oct. 1. The law prescribes a set amount of fees for several scenarios, including: When an insurer, in contested claims, fails to begin benefits payments within 21 days of a claim filing, it should pay the claimant...