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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 14.09.04.02" title_num="14" subtitle_num="09" chapter_num="04" heading="Attorney's Fee, Medical Evaluation Fee, and Costs — Application or Petition for Approval.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Request for Attorney’s Fee Not in Excess of Schedule.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An attorney seeking approval of an attorney’s fee that does not exceed the maximum amount set forth in Regulation .03 of this chapter, shall request approval of the fee by filing the claimant’s consent to pay fees and costs form.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A completed claimant’s consent to pay fees and costs form shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be signed by the claimant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include the amount of any medical evaluation fee requested to be approved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Include any amount of costs advanced by claimant's attorney for which the attorney is seeking payment; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Include any appeal fee requested under Regulation .03B(8) of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An attorney shall substantiate a request for a medical evaluation fee, costs, or a fee under Regulation .03 of this chapter by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submitting medical bills, receipts, or other evidence of costs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Submitting evidence establishing that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The prior compensation award was appealed to the circuit court and tried on appeal;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The prior compensation award was appealed to an appellate court, briefed and decided on the merits;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The prior compensation award was appealed to the circuit court but not resolved by trial;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>The prior compensation award was appealed to an appellate court but not briefed and decided on the merits; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>The prior order of the Commission on the issue of compensability of the claim was appealed to the circuit court and the claim was determined to be compensable by the circuit court or jury.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The claimant's consent to the fee is not binding on the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>An award by the Commission approving an attorney's fee under this regulation shall be notice to the party responsible for payment to reserve in escrow the amount of fee approved.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>If an appeal is not filed within 30 days, the party responsible for payment shall remit the approved fee to the attorney immediately after the expiration of the 30-day appeal period.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>If an appeal is filed timely, the party responsible for payment shall continue to reserve in escrow the amount of the fee approved by the Commission pending final determination of the appeal.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>If the parties agree that an appeal will not be filed, the fee may be remitted to the attorney before expiration of the 30-day appeal period.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>An attorney seeking approval of an attorney’s fee that does not exceed the maximum amount set forth in Regulation .03 of this chapter shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Accurately calculate the fees sought; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include an itemization of all attorney’s fees previously awarded by reference to the amount and date of the Commission’s orders.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Failure to comply with this regulation may result in the reduction or denial of the attorney’s fee sought.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Petition for Attorney’s Fee in Excess of Schedule.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An attorney seeking an attorney's fee exceeding the maximum amount set forth in Regulation .03 of this chapter, shall draft and file with the Commission a written petition.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The petition shall contain the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A clear and concise description of the legal services rendered to the claimant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The amount of attorney's fee requested to be approved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A detailed statement of the reasons for a fee in excess of the maximum amount set forth in Regulation .03 of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A detailed statement establishing the exceptional circumstances that warrant an excess fee;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The claimant's signed acknowledgement of the fact that the attorney is requesting approval of an attorney's fee in excess of the schedule, in the amount specified and for the services described;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The amount of any medical evaluation fee requested to be approved; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>A certificate of service indicating that a copy of the petition has been served on the claimant, as well as the other parties to the case.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A petition for approval of an attorney's fee ordinarily shall be considered by the Commissioner who issued the award of compensation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Unreasonable Proceeding — Attorney Fee Award.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Pursuant to Labor and Employment Article, §9-734, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commission may award a reasonable attorney’s fee in any proceeding as a sanction against the conduct of a party acting without reasonable ground.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Commission may make the attorney's fee award on its own initiative or at the request of any party.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Unless the award of the fee is appealed, the fee allowed under this section is payable immediately.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>