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Appellete Division Holds That Costs of Suit Under Subrogation Provision in New Jersey are Limited to $750

By on September 25, 2012 in Controlling Costs, NJ Workers' Comp with 1 Comment

From time to time, plaintiff’s counsel takes the position that respondent’s lien is applied to the net proceeds after deduction for plaintiff’s total costs of suit.  In Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company v. Calcagno & Associates, A-0900-11T4 (App. Div. September 20, 2012), that very issue was decided.

John Phillips was injured arising from work, and the workers’ compensation carrier paid benefits in the gross amount of $29,733.84. Phillips also sued a third party and recovered $35,000.  Greater New York (hereinafter GNY) asserted its full lien.  In response, counsel forPhillips requested a lien compromise.  GNY refused to compromise its lien and insisted that it was due two thirds of $29,733.84 minus $750 for costs of suit for a balance of $19,073.55.

Calcagno & Associates, counsel for Phillips, did not pay $19,073.55. Instead the law firm sent a check to GNY for $14,821.85 after deducting $12,767.23 for “disbursements of suit.”  GNY then sued for the balance of $4,251.70.

The trial judge ruled that the New Jersey subrogation statute (N.J.S.A. 34:15-40) is clear on its face in stating that costs of suit are limited to $750.  Counsel for Phillips appealed and argued that N.J.S.A. 2A:13-5 governing attorney’s liens had priority over a workers’ compensation lien.  Counsel also argued that the carrier’s lien only attached to the net settlement proceeds in the third party action.

The Court rejected these arguments.  “N.J.S.A. 2A:13-5 is irrelevant to this matter, and defendants cite no authority for the proposition that this statute has priority over a workers’ compensation lien pursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:15-40.”  The Court further held, “Here, the third party tortfeasor or his insurance carrier paid Phillips $35,000 to settle the negligence lawsuit.  The employer’s liability, therefore, was based on that sum, not the net sum.”

The Court said that GNY was entitled to its full two thirds minus $750 or $19,073.55.  It said that Phillips’ lawyer could seek reimbursement of the litigation costs in excess of $750 from Phillips pursuant to their retainer agreement.

Carriers and third party administrators encounter this issue fairly often, so this decision is a useful one.  While the workers’ compensation statute may provide an unrealistically low allowance for costs in a third party action, this is a statutory matter that the Legislature alone can change.

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About the Author

About the Author:

John H. Geaney, Esq. is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of Capehart Scatchard's Workers' Compensation Group. Mr. Geaney began an email newsletter entitled “Currents in Workers’ Compensation, ADA and FMLA” in 2001 in order to keep clients and readers informed on leading developments in these three areas of law. Since that time he has written over 500 newsletter updates.

Mr. Geaney is the author of Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers. The Manual is distributed by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE). He also authored an ADA and FMLA Manual also distributed by NJICLE. If you are interested in purchasing “Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers,” please contact NJICLE at 732-214-8500 or visit their website at www.njicle.com.

Mr. Geaney represents employers in the defense of workers’ compensation, ADA and FMLA matters. He is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers of the American Bar Association. He is one of two firm representatives to the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network.

A graduate of Holy Cross College summa cum laude, Mr. Geaney obtained his law degree from Boston College Law School.

Mr. Geaney was selected to the “New Jersey Super Lawyer” list (2005-2017, 2021 in the area of Workers’ Compensation). Only 5% of attorneys are selected to “Super Lawyers” through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. For a description of the “Super Lawyers” selection methodology, please visit https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html

For the years 2022-2024 Mr. Geaney was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in the practice area of Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers. The attorneys on this list are selected based upon the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. A complete description of The Best Lawyers in America® methodology can be viewed via their website at https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology.

*No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Capehart Scatchard is a full service law firm with offices in Mt. Laurel and Hamilton, New Jersey. The firm represents employers and businesses in a wide variety of areas, including workers’ compensation, civil litigation, labor, environmental, business, estates and governmental affairs.

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