Court Reverses Order Directing Payment of Attorney Fees Into Attorney's Trust

The Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that an injured worker was entitled to a reasonable opportunity to object to her former attorney’s request that the fees payable to him be paid into a trust instead. Case: Breckle v. Treasurer, No. ED104917, 04/18/2017, published. Facts and procedural history: In November 1996, the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission found the Missouri Second Injury Fund liable for payment of permanent total disability benefits to Estelle Breckle. The commission also imposed a 25% lien on Breckle’s compensation award in favor of her attorney, Harry Nicho...