Rhode Island § 28-44-57 - Employment Security — Benefits

§ 28-44-57. Fees and costs chargeable.

(a) No individual claiming benefits shall be charged fees of any kind by the director or his or her representative, or by the board of review or its representatives, in any proceeding under chapters 42 — 44 of this title. Any individual claiming benefits in any proceeding or court action may be represented by counsel or other duly authorized agent. The director shall have the authority to fix the fees of that counsel or other duly authorized agent, but no counsel or agent shall together be allowed to charge or receive for those services more than ten percent (10%) of the maximum benefits at issue in that proceeding or court action but not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) except as specifically allowed by the superior court.

(b) In any case in which either an employer appeals from a determination in favor of the claimant or a claimant successfully appeals a decision unfavorable to the claimant to an appeals body other than a court of law and the claimant retains an attorney-at-law to represent him or her, the attorney shall be entitled to a counsel fee of ten percent (10%) of the amount of benefits at issue before the appeals body but not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), which shall be paid by the director out of the employment security administrative funds, within thirty (30) days of the date of his or her appearance.

(c)(1) An attorney-at-law who represents an individual claiming benefits on an appeal to the courts shall be entitled to counsel fees upon final disposition of the case and necessary court costs and printing disbursements as fixed by the court.

(2) The director shall pay those counsel fees, costs, and disbursements out of the employment security administrative funds in each of the following cases:

(i) Any court appeal taken by a party other than the claimant from an administrative or judicial decision favorable in whole or in part to the claimant;

(ii) Any court appeal by a claimant from a decision denying or reducing benefits awarded under a prior administrative or judicial decision; and

(iii) Any court appeal as a result of which the claimant is awarded benefits.