The appellee in this workers’ compensation case has moved for attorney’s fees pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 1 l-9-715(b) (1987), based on our opinion of June 23,1993, in which we affirmed the award of workers’ compensation benefits in favor of the appellee. We grant the motion and award attorney s fees in the sum of $500.00 to the appellee.
This case began as a claim for benefits, based on a work-related hernia, which was granted by the Commission. The employer appealed that decision to this Court and, in Cagle I, we affirmed the Commission’s award of benefits to the appellee. Cagle Fabricating and Steel, Inc. v. Patterson,
The present motion presents a separate issue, i.e., whether the appellee is entitled to an additional fee for prevailing in Cagle II. Arkansas Code Annotated § 11-9-715(b)(1) provides for additional attorney’s fees if the claimant prevails on appeal. The statute neither expressly provides for nor expressly prohibits an additional award of attorney’s fees in cases such as the case at bar, where the claimant has been required to defend his award of workers’ compensation benefits through two separate appeals brought by the employer to this Court. Construing the attorney’s fee provision liberally and in accordance with the remedial purposes of the Act, see Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-704(c)(3) (Supp. 1991), we hold that an additional award of attorney’s fees is authorized by the statute under the circumstances of this case. Therefore, we grant the appellee’s motion and award attorney’s fees in the amount of $500.00.
