law partners compensation lawyers costs in workers compensation matters 8 september 2011 rodney...

LAW PARTNERS COMPENSATION LAWYERS

COSTS IN WORKERS COMPENSATION MATTERS

8 SEPTEMBER 2011

Rodney Parsons, Deputy RegistrarTelephone: 8281 6403

SESSION OVERVIEW

1. Overview of the costs model

2. Issues of interest

POWER TO ORDER COSTS

Section 341(2)

Commission full discretion costs payable:• by whom,• to whom, and• to what extent

Section 337

Discretion subject to limits by regulations

COSTS ORDERS

That the Respondent pay the Applicant’s costsas agreed or assessed

COSTS ORDERS

That the Respondent pay the Applicant’s costsas agreed or assessed

That the Respondent pay the Applicant’s costsin the sum of $__________

NEW COSTS

Workers Compensation Amendment(Costs) Regulation 2006

Commencement 01/11/06

Old Costs•WCC proceedings pre 01/11/06•Pre 01/11/06 resolutions; no WCC

New Costs•WCC from 01/11/06•Resolutions from 01/11/06; no WCC

Formerly: Workers Compensation Regulation 2003

Part 19

•Clauses 81 – 126B

Schedule 6

•Part A – Application and operation•Part B – Tables•Part C – Regulated disbursements

COSTS REGULATIONS

Now: Workers Compensation Regulation 2010

Part 17

•Clauses 94 – 143

Schedule 6

•Part 1 – Application and operation•Part 2 – Tables•Part 3 – Regulated disbursements

Comparative Table – www.wcc.nsw.gov.au

COSTS REGULATIONS

GENERAL RULES

Exceptions to Regulated Costs

•Clause 96 of the 2010 Regulation(formerly cl 82 of the 2003 Regulation)

•If cl 96, refer to Legal Profession Act & Regulation (s 334 of the 1998 Act) (Eg. Interpreter fees)

•Otherwise, “fair and reasonable”(Eg. worker’s travel costs and expenses)

GENERAL RULES

Exceptions to Regulated Costs

•Medical examinations and reports(cl 96(e) of the 2010 Regulation)

(s 339 of the 1998 Act)

•WorkCover Fee Orders

•Note requirements of Item 4, Part 3, Schedule 6

•Note s 73 of 1987 Act

Need to determine:

•Type of resolution•When it was resolved (phase) (Para 1(2), Part 1, Schedule 6)

Multiple resolutions:

•Restricted to single, highest amount(Paras 1(3) & 8, Part 1, Schedule 6)

•Exceptions:* 12 months between resolutions* Commission/Registrar certifies

(Para 9, Part 1, Schedule 6)

* Different injuries

GENERAL RULES

Recoverable costs:

•Maximum flat, predetermined figure; or•Within a range from nil to maximum (Para 1(4), Part 1, Schedule 6) (Para 11, Part 1, Schedule 6)

GENERAL RULES

THE TABLES

General Resolution Types

•Table 2 – applicable rate

•Table 1 – costs payable

THE TABLES




Additional Legal Services or Other Factors

•Table 4 – additional costs




Additional Legal Services or Other Factors

•Table 4 – additional costs

Special Resolution Types


THE TABLES

TABLE 2GENERAL RESOLUTION TYPES –

APPLICABLE RATE100%•Weekly comp exceeding 12 weeks•Section 66 and section 67•Section 66 only (liability issue)•Section 60 exceeding $7,500•Contested death cases

75%•Weekly comp up to 12 weeks (not IPD)•Section 66 only (no liability issue)•Section 67 only•Section 60 up to $7,500 (not IPD)•Uncontested death cases


CLAIMANT COSTS PAYABLE$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S $3,000

$5,000

$6,000

RESOLUTION STAGE 75% 100%

RESOLUTION TYPETABLE 1

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S $3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B


A Section 66 and 67 pre WCC $2,475 $3,275B Section 66 and 67 WCC $3,525 $4,675



CLAIMANT COSTS PAYABLE

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S $3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B






Para 6, Part 1, Schedule 6

Post MAC s 66 only:Applicant: $4,000Respondent: $1,875

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S

RESOLUTION TYPE

$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B



C Other compensation pre WCC $2,860 $3,785D Other compensation to initial t/c $3,870 $5,135E Other compensation to conciliation $4,250 $5,645F Other compensation post conciliation $4,615 $6,125

TABLE 1



$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B



C D E F


COSTS PAYABLE

C Other compensation pre WCC $2,860 $3,785D Other compensation to initial t/c $3,870 $5,135E Other compensation to conciliation $4,250 $5,645F Other compensation post conciliation $4,615 $6,125

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F

TABLE 4 – ITEMS 1, 2 & 3ADDITIONAL LEGAL SERVICES OR

OTHER FACTORS

TABLE 4

1 2 3

Item 1 Arbitral appeal (up to $2,200)

Item 2 Question of law (up to $2,200)

Item 3 Medical appeal (up to $1,100)

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F

TABLE 4 – ITEM 4ADDITIONAL LEGAL SERVICES OR

OTHER FACTORSCOMPLEX INCREASE –

CLAIMANT

Item 4 0% - 30%(Item D, E or F of Table 1)

TABLE 4

1 2 3

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F


OTHER FACTORSMULTIPLE EMPLOYER –

CLAIMANT

Item 6 0% - 30%(Table 1 andItems 1, 2 & 3 of Table 4)

TABLE 4

1 2 3

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F


OTHER FACTORS

COMPLEX INCREASE &MULTIPLE EMPLOYER–

CLAIMANT

Item 5 0% - 45%(complex & multiple employers)(Item D, E or F of Table 1)

1 2 3TABLE 4

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F

TABLE 1 & TABLE 4INSURER COSTS

TABLE 4

1 2 3

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F


OTHER FACTORSCOMPLEX INCREASE –

INSURER

Item 4 0% - 30%(Item D, E or F of Table 1)

TABLE 4

1 2 3

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F


OTHER FACTORSLEAD SCHEME AGENT –

INSURER

Item 7 0% - 30%(Table 1 andItems 1, 2 & 3 of Table 4)

1 2 3TABLE 4

$9,000

$7,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F


OTHER FACTORS

TABLE 4

1 2 3


INSURER

Item 5 0% - 45%(complex & lead scheme agent)(Item D, E or F of Table 1)

$7,000

$9,000

$8,000

$4,000

$2,000

$1,000

T O T A L

C O ST S


$3,000

$5,000

$6,000

A B C D E F


OTHER FACTORS

TABLE 4

1 2 3


INSURER

Item 5 0% - 45%(complex & lead scheme agent)

ISSUES• Meaning of “Resolved”

• Costs Unreasonably Incurred

• Costs for Unsuccessful Claim

• Applying Uplifts

• Meaning of “Complex”

• Complex per Matter / Complex per Party

• Costs Within a Range

• Assessments

MEANING OF “RESOLVED”

Part A, Clause 2(2)

• Resolved for claimant if:

(a) Wholly or partly resolved in claimant’s favour

(b) Insurer application successfully defended

• Does not include discontinued, withdrawn, dismissed, struck out without:

(a) Resolution as above

OR

(b) order by Commission or Registrar

MEANING OF “RESOLVED”

Part A, Clause 2(3)

• Resolved for insurer if:

(a) Claim or dispute is concluded

(b) Insurer application is concluded

• Unless otherwise ordered or certified for purposes of costs recovery by Commission or Registrar

COSTS UNREASONABLY INCURREDPhase of Resolution

Section 342 of the 1998 Act:

• After reasonable offer (s 342(2)(a))

• After failure to comply with a reasonable request (s 342(2)(b))

• After unreasonable failure to participate (s 342(2)(c))

Paragraph 18, Part 1, Schedule 6

Uniting Church in Australia (NSW Synod) v Legge [2002] NSWCA 307

• Reasonableness of a settlement offer depends upon its own terms and the circumstances in which it is made

• Entitlement to (higher) costs despite not improving on offer

UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIMNahar v Arcadia Property Management Group Pty Ltd [2005]

NSWWCC 76

• Costs follow the event in WCC save for limited circumstances against claimants

Connor v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Archdiocese of Sydney [2006] NSWWCCPD 124

• Successful party pays unsuccessful party only in exceptional circumstances

(1) been guilty of some sort of misconduct,

(2) by its lax conduct, effectively invited the litigation, or

(3) unnecessarily or unreasonably protracted the proceedings (at [79]).

UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIMBonsu v Andrews Meat Industries Pty Ltd

[2010] NSWWCC 447

• MAC 0%

• Party/party costs at discretion of Commission

• Costs may be payable to unsuccessful claimant where proceedings commenced due to insurer’s failure to determine a claim, despite unsuccessful outcome

UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIMWest v Winro Pty Limited [2010] NSWWCC 361

• Wide discrepancy between competing medical opinions not enough

• Necessary to review and analyse the totality of the medical evidence before commencing proceedings

Lazarou v Lambing Flat Enterprises Limited [2010] NSWWCC 418

• Applicant and lawyers not assisted by Respondent prior to commencement of proceedings to accurately identify the appropriate award

• Employer has statutory obligation to provide certainty in relation to the nature of employment of its employees

APPLYING UPLIFTS

Items 4 and 5, Table 4

• Commission or Registrar• Costs assessment

Items 6 and 7, Table 4

• By agreement• Costs assessment• Commission or Registrar certify

MEANING OF “COMPLEX”

• Characterised by an involved combination of parts; complicated; intricate (Macquarie Dictionary)

• Complex evidence that was necessary, relevant and probative, other than evidence of the worker and their spouse

• Complexity of fact and/or law

• Exception rather than the rule

MEANING OF “COMPLEX”

Lake v Hunter Institute of Technology – NSW TAFE [2010] NSWWCC 437

• Intricacy of fact, law and legislation that is higher than that usually encountered in other proceedings for workers compensation disputes.

• Relevant factors include the preparation, skill, care, time, novelty and difficulty of a case in terms of legal, medical, factual, procedural, evidentiary and multiplicity of issues.

• The test for complexity is not reflected in the complication of injuries and claims brought by the Applicant; it is reflected in the nature of the proceedings themselves and the outcome achieved.

COMPLEX PER MATTER / PER PARTY

• Table 4 – Items 4 and 5

“If the Commission or Registrar certifies the matter as complex”

Different per party?

WITHIN THE RANGE

Part A, Clause 11

• Range from and including nil to and including the upper limit

• Upper limit may be determined by reference to:

(a) Practice direction

(b) Registrar’s guideline

otherwise

(c) Nature and extent of service performed

ASSESSMENTS

Clause 127 of the 2010 Regulation

• In assessing fair and reasonable costs, Registrar may consider:

(a) skill, labour and responsibility

(b) complexity, novelty or difficulty of matter

(c) quality of work done and level of expertise

• Refer also to cl 126 of the 2010 Regulation

ASSESSMENTSTips and Traps

• Not sufficient to merely attach documents – need submissions in support of costs claimed

• Merely setting out chronology not enough – need to know why believe entitled to costs claimed

• Need to attach evidence of costs order or agreement

• Costs of assessment – reflects work done (up to $1,100 under Item C, Table 3, Part 2, Schedule 6)

• Costs of assessment – accurate submissions in support

• Need to comply with lodgment provisions (30 days after invoice or 60 days after order)

• Short delays in payment of costs does not normally ground entitlement to costs of assessment

LAW PARTNERS COMPENSATION LAWYERS

COSTS IN WORKERS COMPENSATION MATTERS

8 SEPTEMBER 2011

Rodney Parsons, Deputy RegistrarTelephone: 8281 6403

law partners compensation lawyers costs in workers compensation matters 8 september 2011 rodney...

Documents

applicants costs

discretion costs payable

costs payablethe tablestable

regulations costs ordersthat

resolution typetable

applicable ratetable

c o st s

workers compensation