Wise v. Gary-Adams-Trucking

Court of Appeals of Oregon

Wise v. Gary-Adams-Trucking

809 P.2d 715, 106 Or. App. 654, 1991 Ore. App. LEXIS 580

CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon

DecidedApril 17, 1991

DocketWCB 89-11090; CA A62765

StatusPublished

This text of 809 P.2d 715 (Wise v. Gary-Adams-Trucking) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Wise v. Gary-Adams-Trucking, 809 P.2d 715, 106 Or. App. 654, 1991 Ore. App. LEXIS 580 (Or. Ct. App. 1991).

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Opinion

RICHARDSON, P. J.

Claimant seeks review of a final order of the Director of the Department of Insurance and Finance, issued pursuant to ORS 656.740(3), dismissing employer’s request for review of the Director’s proposed order that employer is a noncomplying employer. Claimant contends that the Director erred by denying him attorney fees. We affirm.

Claimant was injured while working for employer. The Director issued a proposed order holding that employer had not complied with the workers’ compensation laws. ORS 656.740(1). Employer requested review, ORS 656.740(3), and a hearing was set, but neither employer nor his counsel appeared. Claimant appeared with his attorney and was examined by counsel for the Director. Employer’s counsel sent a letter the next day to the referee apologizing for not appearing and stating that employer’s request for hearing had been withdrawn. The referee issued an order dismissing the request for review, which became a final order of the Director. ORS 656.740(3). Claimant requested attorney fees pursuant to ORS 656.382(2). The referee denied the request.

We express no opinion about whether ORS 656.382(2) authorizes attorney fees for a claimant for participation in a hearing regarding a noncomplying employer pursuant to ORS 656.740(3). The Director did not make a decision on the merits, so there is no predicate for an award of attorney fees under ORS 656.382(2), even if that statute otherwise authorizes them. Terlouw v. Jesuit Seminary, 101 Or App 493, 790 P2d 1215, rev den 310 Or 282 (1990); Liberty Northwest Ins. Corp. v. McKellips, 100 Or App 549, 786 P2d 1321 (1990); Agripac, Inc. v. Kitchel, 73 Or App 132, 698 P2d 69 (1985).

Affirmed.

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RICHARDSON, P. J.

Claimant seeks review of a final order of the Director of the Department of Insurance and Finance, issued pursuant to ORS 656.740(3), dismissing employer’s request for review of the Director’s proposed order that employer is a noncomplying employer. Claimant contends that the Director erred by denying him attorney fees. We affirm.

Claimant was injured while working for employer. The Director issued a proposed order holding that employer had not complied with the workers’ compensation laws. ORS 656.740(1). Employer requested review, ORS 656.740(3), and a hearing was set, but neither employer nor his counsel appeared. Claimant appeared with his attorney and was examined by counsel for the Director. Employer’s counsel sent a letter the next day to the referee apologizing for not appearing and stating that employer’s request for hearing had been withdrawn. The referee issued an order dismissing the request for review, which became a final order of the Director. ORS 656.740(3). Claimant requested attorney fees pursuant to ORS 656.382(2). The referee denied the request.

We express no opinion about whether ORS 656.382(2) authorizes attorney fees for a claimant for participation in a hearing regarding a noncomplying employer pursuant to ORS 656.740(3). The Director did not make a decision on the merits, so there is no predicate for an award of attorney fees under ORS 656.382(2), even if that statute otherwise authorizes them. Terlouw v. Jesuit Seminary, 101 Or App 493, 790 P2d 1215, rev den 310 Or 282 (1990); Liberty Northwest Ins. Corp. v. McKellips, 100 Or App 549, 786 P2d 1321 (1990); Agripac, Inc. v. Kitchel, 73 Or App 132, 698 P2d 69 (1985).

Affirmed.

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Bluebook (online)

809 P.2d 715, 106 Or. App. 654, 1991 Ore. App. LEXIS 580, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wise-v-gary-adams-trucking-orctapp-1991.

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