Bill > S4059

This bill, the Establishes 21st Century Injured Workers' Access to Justice Act, amends the existing workers' compensation law in New Jersey. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It increases the maximum allowable attorney fee for claimants from 20% to 25% of the judgment or award. Additionally, it allows psychologists, nurse practitioners, and licensed clinical social workers who provide psychological treatment to be paid a fee for reports or testimony related to their treatment of the injured worker. 2. The bill specifies that the basis for awarding a contingency fee, up to a maximum of 25% of the petitioner's settlement, order on motion, or judgment, shall be the value of the money judgment awarded to the petitioner. The judge of workers' compensation is prohibited from considering the number of hours expended by counsel or their hourly rate when determining the reasonableness of the fee. 3. The bill also stipulates that no awarded counsel fee shall be allocated against the petitioner's recovery for medical treatment or temporary total disability benefits secured through motion or plenary trial. 4. The bill applies to any pending contingency fee determinations by a judge of workers' compensation on or after the date of enactment.

Labor and Employment

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/S4059