Sandra J. Rusch and Brenda Dockter v. Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium and Alaska National Insurance Company

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court held that the Workers’ Compensation Act permits enhanced attorney’s fees and that the Commission’s fee award was an abuse of discretion. It vacated the award and remanded, directing the Commission to apply the modified lodestar method and consider all relevant factors. The Court also ruled that due process does not require an evidentiary hearing on remand.