The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have to pay the attorney fees related to a former player’s workers’ compensation case because, though he clearly suffered injuries while with the team, the team reasonably argued he was not disabled as he went on to play for other pro teams, the Commonwealth Court ruled.
Pennsylvania law automatically provides attorney fees to prevailing claimants when employers contest a claim for workers’ compensation benefits unless that contest is reasonable. In the case of Iwuoma v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board , a three-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court found the Steelers had a viable reason to contest former player Chidi F. Iwuoma’s claims of disability.
