§ 23-1069 — Attorney's fees; payment; time limitation

A. In proceedings before the commission in which an attorney employed by the claimant has rendered services reasonably necessary in processing the claim, the commission shall, upon application filed by the attorney or the claimant prior to a final disposition of the case, set a reasonable attorney's fee and shall provide for the payment thereof from the award, in installments or otherwise, as the commission determines proper in view of the award made, and shall further provide for the payment of the attorney's fee direct to the attorney. The commission shall charge the amount of the payment against the award to the claimant.

B. The attorney's fee provided for in subsection A shall be not more than twenty-five per cent up to ten years from the date of the award. In cases involving solely loss of earning capacity, the maximum shall be twenty-five per cent up to five years from the date of the final award. When the payment of the award to the claimant is made in installments, or in other than a lump sum manner, in no event may an amount in excess of twenty-five per cent of any one such installment payment be withheld for the attorney's fee.

C. The reasonableness of the attorney's fee set pursuant to subsection A shall be reviewable upon the application of the claimant or the attorney in the same manner as other awards of the commission.