Section 51.52.130 - Attorney and witness fees in court appeal(1) If, on appeal to the superior or appellate court from the decision and order of the board, said decision and order is reversed or modified and additional relief is granted to a worker or beneficiary, or in cases where a party other than the worker or beneficiary is the appealing party and the worker's or beneficiary's right to relief is sustained, a reasonable fee for the services of the worker's or beneficiary's attorney shall be fixed by the court. In fixing the fee the court shall take into consideration the fee or fees, if any, fixed by the director and the board for such attorney's services before the department and the board. If the court finds that the fee fixed by the director or by the board is inadequate for services performed before the department or board, or if the director or the board has fixed no fee for such services, then the court shall fix a fee for the attorney's services before the department, or the board, as the case may be, in addition to the fee fixed for the services in the court. If in a worker or beneficiary appeal the decision and order of the board is reversed or modified and if the accident fund or medical aid fund is affected by the litigation, or if in an appeal by the department or employer the worker or beneficiary's right to relief is sustained, or in an appeal by a worker involving a state fund employer with twenty-five employees or less, in which the department does not appear and defend, and the board order in favor of the employer is sustained, the attorney's fee fixed by the court, for services before the court only, and the fees of medical and other witnesses and the costs shall be payable out of the administrative fund of the department. In the case of self-insured employers, the attorney fees fixed by the court, for services before the court only, and the fees of medical and other witnesses and the costs shall be payable directly by the self-insured employer.(2) In an appeal to the superior or appellate court involving the presumption established under RCW 51.32.185, the attorney's fee shall be payable as set forth under RCW 51.32.185.
RCW 51.52.130
2007 c 490 § 4; 1993 c 122 § 1; 1982 c 63 § 23; 1977 ex.s. c 350 § 82; 1961 c 23 § 51.52.130. Prior: 1957 c 70 § 63; 1951 c 225 § 17; prior: 1949 c 219 § 6, part; 1943 c 280 § 1, part; 1931 c 90 § 1, part; 1929 c 132 § 6, part; 1927 c 310 § 8, part; 1911 c 74 § 20, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 7697, part.
Effective dates-Implementation-1982 c 63: See note following RCW 51.32.095.