Supreme Court Clarifies Board's Authority to Adjust Attorney Fees

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board has the authority to adjust the fees payable to a worker’s attorney but abused its discretion to reduce an award to a veteran practitioner. Case: Botelho v. Atlas Recycling Center LLC, No. SCWC-16-0000349, 05/04/2020, published. Facts and procedural history: Reginald G. Botelho worked for Atlas Recycling Centers as a laborer. After he injured his wrist at work in May 2005, Botelho hired attorney Stanford Masui to file a workers’ compensation claim. Atlas had workers’ compensation...