Judges Have Broad Discretion to Review Reasonableness of Fee Awards

The North Carolina Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Court of Appeals as to the scope of authority that a trial judge has to review the reasonableness of an attorney fee award provided by the state Industrial Commission. Case: Saunders v. ADP Totalsource Fi Xi, No. 399PA16, 02/01/2019, published. Facts and procedural history: Keith Saunders worked for ADP Totalsource as a bartender. After he suffered two back injuries at work, Saunders hired attorney Henry Teich to represent him in a workers’ compensation claim before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The fee agreemen...