The BRB Went on an Attorney Fee Tear in Early 2014

Did anyone else notice that the Benefits Review Board went on a tear in January and February 2014 with respect to Longshore attorney fee decisions?  See below:

Leffard v. Eagle Marine Servs., BRB No. 13-0199 (Jan. 17, 2014) (addressing hourly rate, fee petition evidence, and time spent preparing a response to employers’ objection to claimant’s counsel’s fee petition).

Richey v. Premiere, Inc., BRB No. 13-0216 (Jan. 17, 2014) (affirming award of Section 28(a) fees for failing to pay compensation within 30 days).

Modar v. Maritime Servs. Corp., BRB No. 13-0319 (Jan. 17, 2014) (affirming district director’s decision to “enhance counsel’s attorney’s fee for services performed in 2004 and 2005 by using 2008 hourly rates rather than 2012 hourly rates….”).

Huggins v. Massman Traylor Joint Venture, BRB N. 13-0223 (Jan. 28, 2014) (affirming ALJ’s reduction of fees by 30% based on claimant’s limited success in obtaining benefits.).

Keniston v. Crowley Marine Services, BRB No. 13-0197 (Jan. 31, 2014) (addressing hourly rate, fee petition supporting evidence, and “escalating routing discovery disputes with unnecessary filings that waste the time of both parties and the court.”).

Oleska v. CSX Transp., Inc., BRB No. 13-0400 (Feb. 18, 2014) (reversing award of Section 28(b) fees because claimant did not receive “greater compensation” as a result of the ALJ proceeding).

Petitt v. Sause Bros., BRB No. 13-0330 (Feb. 26, 2014) (affirming inter alia district director’s method for calculating claimant’s counsel’s hourly rate on a delayed payment claim).

And finally, the Sallyport Global Services claims, all of which are interrelated:

Khudhaier v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No. 13-0342 (Feb. 7, 2014) (vacating fee award based on procedural deficiencies at the ALJ level);

Kadim v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No. 13-0346 (Feb. 12, 2014) (same);

Al-Maliki v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No. 13-0343 (Feb. 18, 2014) (same);

Ali v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No. 13-0344 (Feb. 18, 2014) (same);

Younis v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No.13-0349 (Feb. 20, 2014) (same);

Yaseen v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No. 13-0345 (Feb. 27, 2014) (same); and

Shamkhi v. Sallyport Global Servs., BRB No. 13-0350 (Feb. 28, 2014) (same).

(Note: I originally published this post on Navigable Waters: A Maritime, Longshore and Defense Base Act Blog.)