Court Upholds Worker's Fee Award, Subject to Statutory Cap

An Ohio appellate court upheld a fee award of $4,200 for a worker in a long-running dispute over his entitlement to benefits, even though the fees he actually incurred far exceeded this amount, the statutory maximum available. Case: Shields v. McCloud, No. 115499, 03/19/2026, published. Facts and procedural history: Michael Shields worked as a mechanic for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. He injured his left shoulder at work in 2015. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation allowed Shields’ claim for a left shoulder strain. In 2017, Shields sought benefits for an al...