Employers Call Proposed Hourly Attorney Fee Too High; Claimants' Attorneys Disagree

Associations representing Oregon employers said a proposal to allow claimants' attorneys to receive an hourly fee of $300 for depositions and interviews is simply too high when compared to the amount defense attorneys make for the same kind of work. Not surprisingly, claimants' attorneys do not agree, and one told the Workers' Compensation Board in written comments the proposed rate is too low to attract new talent. The WCB and the Workers' Compensation Division have both proposed sets of rules to implement House Bill 2764, which lawmakers passed this year to increase how muc...