Subdivision 1.Parties not awarded costs.

Except as provided otherwise by this chapter and specifically by this section, in appeals before the court of appeals or proceedings before the division or a compensation judge, costs shall not be awarded to any party.

Subd. 2.Disbursements, taxation.

Ask a workers compensation law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified workers compensation lawyers.
Claims, medical treatment, disability payments, termination, and more.
Get help with workers' comp forms, benefits, or employers' responsibilities
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 176.511

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Tax: means any fee, charge, exaction, or assessment imposed by a governmental entity on an individual, person, entity, transaction, good, service, or other thing. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

The commissioner or compensation judge, or the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals on cases before the court, may award the prevailing party reimbursement for actual and necessary disbursements. Disbursements shall be taxed upon ten days’ written notice to adverse parties.

Subd. 3.Attorney fee, allowance.

Where (1) an award of compensation is affirmed, or modified and affirmed, (2) an order disallowing compensation is reversed, or (3) a petition to vacate an award is granted, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals may include in its award an amount to cover a reasonable attorney fee or may allow an attorney fee in a proceeding to tax disbursements.

If the employer or insurer files a notice of discontinuance of an employee’s benefits and an administrative conference is held to resolve the dispute, but the employer or insurer fails to attend the administrative conference, the commissioner or compensation judge may order the employer or insurer to pay the employee’s attorney fees as a cost under this section if the employee’s benefits are continued.

Subd. 4.Costs and disbursements on certiorari.

On review by the supreme court upon certiorari, costs and disbursements shall be taxed as they are upon appeals in civil actions.

Subd. 5.Attorney fee on certiorari.

Where upon a review by the supreme court upon certiorari, an award of compensation is affirmed, or modified and affirmed, or an order disallowing compensation is reversed, the court may allow a reasonable attorney fee incident to the review. This allowance of an attorney fee shall be made a part of the judgment order of the supreme court.