C.R.S. Section 8-43-403
Attorney fees

(1)

A contingent fee shall not be applied to any medical benefits that have been previously incurred and will be paid to the claimant or directly to the medical care provider, in a permanent disability award, either by admission or settlement. If medical benefits are the only contested issue, the fee agreement shall provide for reasonable fees calculated on a per-hour basis or, subject to approval by the director, may provide for a contingent fee not to exceed the limitations imposed by this section. On unappealed contested cases, a contingent fee exceeding twenty-five percent of the amount of contested benefits is presumed to be unreasonable. At the request of either an employee or the employee’s attorney, the director shall determine what portion of the benefits awarded were contested, or the reasonableness of the fee charged by such attorney, or both. At the request of the employer or its insurance carrier or the attorney for either of them, the director shall determine the reasonableness of the fee charged by the attorney for the insurance carrier. The director shall not consider a request for determination of the reasonableness of fees if received later than one hundred eighty days after the issuance of the final order, judgment, or opinion disposing of the last material issue in the case and the expiration of any right to review or appeal the final order, judgment, or opinion. In making this determination, the director shall consider fees normally charged by attorneys for cases requiring the same amount of time and skill and may decrease or increase the fee payable to such attorney. If the director finds that a review by the industrial claim appeals office or an appeal to the court of appeals or to the supreme court was perfected or if the director finds that such attorney reasonably devoted an extraordinary amount of time to the case, the director may award or approve a contingent fee or other fee in a percentage or amount that exceeds twenty-five percent of the amount of contested benefits. In determining the reasonableness of fees charged by an attorney for an employer or employer’s insurance carrier, the director shall compare the fees of such attorney with the fees charged by the claimant’s attorney in the same case and shall not approve an amount substantially greater than the reasonable amount charged by the said claimant’s attorney or, if the claimant did not prevail, the reasonable amount the said claimant’s attorney would have charged had the claimant prevailed, unless the director finds, based on a showing by the attorney for the employer or carrier, that higher fees are objectively justifiable. Legal costs not found reasonable shall not be allowed as an expense in fixing premium rates by the commissioner of insurance.

(2)

Any attorney who represents any party in a workers’ compensation case shall provide the party with a written fee agreement which sets forth, in full, the attorney’s specific fee arrangement, including the criteria upon which the attorney bases his hourly or set fee and the circumstances in which any modifications or adjustments to such fee will be made, and specifying whether the client will be charged for the attorney’s expenses or advances made by the attorney on behalf of the party, including without limitation costs of copying, research, telephone calls, postage, and any other expenses incident to the litigation which the attorney may be ethically bound to undertake on behalf of the party pursuant to law or pursuant to any court rule including the code of professional responsibility as adopted by the supreme court of Colorado. Contingent fee agreements shall be in conformity with all applicable provisions of the said code or of rules of the supreme court, and, in addition, such agreements shall set forth the provisions of this section in easy to understand language in at least ten-point bold-faced type. No such fee agreement may be enforced against any party unless it complies with the requirements of this section and is signed by both parties. Any attempt by an attorney who intentionally does not comply with this section and who seeks to enforce a fee agreement which does not comply with the requirements of this section shall be presumed to be a violation of the code of professional responsibility as adopted by the supreme court of Colorado.

(3)

Repealed.

Source: Section 8-43-403 — Attorney fees, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-08.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

8‑43‑101
Record of injuries - occupational disease - reported to division - rules - definition 8‑43‑102
Notice to employer of injury - notice to employees - failure to report 8‑43‑103
Notice of injury - time limit 8‑43‑104
Electronic filings - rules 8‑43‑201
Disputes arising under “Workers’ Compensation Act of Colorado” 8‑43‑202
Director may refer taking of evidence in cases to appropriate officials of other states 8‑43‑203
Notice concerning liability - notice to claimants - notice of rights and claims process - rules 8‑43‑204
Settlements - rules 8‑43‑205
Mediation 8‑43‑206
Settlement conference procedures 8‑43‑206.5
Right to binding arbitration for resolution of disputes under articles 40 to 47 8‑43‑207
Hearings 8‑43‑207.5
Prehearing conferences - rules - definition 8‑43‑208
Investigations 8‑43‑209
Time schedule for hearings - establishment 8‑43‑210
Evidence 8‑43‑211
Notice - request for hearing 8‑43‑212
Compulsion of testimony 8‑43‑213
Transcripts 8‑43‑214
Transcript certified - evidence 8‑43‑215
Orders 8‑43‑217
Claims management - legislative declaration 8‑43‑218
Authority of director 8‑43‑219
Not a limitation on rights or privileges 8‑43‑220
Injured worker exit survey 8‑43‑301
Petitions to review 8‑43‑302
Corrected orders 8‑43‑303
Reopening 8‑43‑304
Violations - penalty - offset for benefits obtained through fraud - rules 8‑43‑304.5
Penalties in rate-making 8‑43‑305
Each day separate offense 8‑43‑306
Collection of fines, penalties, and overpayments 8‑43‑307
Appeals to court of appeals 8‑43‑308
Causes for setting aside award 8‑43‑309
Actions in court tried within thirty days 8‑43‑310
Error disregarded unless prejudicial 8‑43‑311
Court record transmitted to industrial claim appeals office - when 8‑43‑312
Court may remand case or order entry of award 8‑43‑313
Summary review by supreme court 8‑43‑314
Fees - costs - duty of district attorneys and attorney general 8‑43‑315
Witnesses and testimony - mileage - fees - costs 8‑43‑316
Appearance by officer for closely held entity 8‑43‑317
Service of documents 8‑43‑318
Remand of case or order - time limit for further proceedings consistent with ruling on appeal 8‑43‑401
District attorney or attorney of division to act for director or office - penalties for failure of insurer to pay benefits 8‑43‑401.5
Financial incentives to deny or delay claim or medical care - prohibition - penalties 8‑43‑402
False statement - felony 8‑43‑403
Attorney fees 8‑43‑404
Examination - refusal - personal responsibility - physicians to testify and furnish results - injured worker right to select treating physicians - injured worker right to third-party communications - definitions - rules 8‑43‑405
Payment as discharge of liability - conflicting claims 8‑43‑406
Compensation in lump sum 8‑43‑407
Election to waive vocational rehabilitation benefits and become subject to permanent partial disability provisions 8‑43‑408
Default of employer - additional liability 8‑43‑409
Defaulting employers - penalties - enjoined from continuing business - fines - procedure - definition - repeal 8‑43‑410
Right to compensation operates as lien - interest on award 8‑43‑501
Utilization review process - legislative declaration - cash fund 8‑43‑502
Independent medical examinations 8‑43‑503
Utilization review of health-care providers 8‑43‑601
Short title 8‑43‑602
Legislative declaration 8‑43‑603
Definitions 8‑43‑604
Performance programs 8‑43‑605
Due process 8‑43‑606
Enforcement 8‑43‑607
Filing with director
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 8-43-403’s source at colorado​.gov