Posts

Meet the Experts!

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Meet the Experts! More on that at the close (below), but first some exposition of the origins. This program is the brainchild of Stuart Suskin, and to understand it, you must know Stuart. (Meet Stuart in the December 2025 unCOMPlex podcast on YouTube - discussing this program ); See the brochure here . A long time ago, in another galaxy, I ran into Stuart Suskin. He was a pushy, insistent (made me come to Gainesville instead of appearing by telegraph), and energetic mediator in the early days of mandatory Florida Workers’ Compensation mediation. I represented some clients in Gainesville back in the day, and would travel on horseback to mediate those cases, until the iron horse came to Florida (but that is another story). Long before that, Stuart arrived in Florida in 1513 with Juan Ponce de Leon. Juan was purportedly looking for gold, but Stuart was merely searching for disputes that needed discussion or resolution. His near-pathological love of resolving disputes, no ma...
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Reappointment Nominations August 2025

The Statewide Judicial Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims met in Orlando on August 18, 2025, to consider the reappointment applications of seven judges. The following were nominated for reappointment: Honorable Eduardo Almeyda (MIA), Honorable Walter Havers (MIA), Honorable Jeffrey Jacobs (MIA), Honorable David Langham (PNS/TLH), Honorable Jacquelyn Newman (TLH); Honorable Neal Pitts (ORL); and Honorable Timothy Stanton (JAX).
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WCI 2025 and More

The Workers’ Compensation Institute is coming up in August. It is unfathomably close already. There will be an OJCC meet the Judges and Mediators on Sunday, August 17, 2025, from 5:00 to 6:00 in Anaheim, Atlanta, and Boston rooms in the Hall of Cities at the Marriott. The Statewide Nominating Commission is meeting Monday, August 18, 2025, in Grand Ballrooms 10, 11, and 12. OJCC Speakers include (only events open to the public are listed): Sunday, August 17, 2025, Grand Ballroom 8B – Professional                               Mediation Institute 09:00 Sagely Advice for Mediators, Attorneys, and Adjusters                      Hon. Erik Grindal                      Hon. Thomas Hedler              ...
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Scholars 2026!

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Following an inaugural year for our OJCC Scholars program, which we thought was non-replicable, we have selected the participants for OJCC Scholars 2026! We will kick off our nine-month program on August 19, 2025, at the Workers' Compensation Institute in Orlando. The depth of this community's future leadership bench is simply amazing, and it is a privilege to work with these exceptional community members as they evolve, grow, and lead! For more on the program, see The Scholar's First (August 2024) and  Scholars 2025 Concludes (April 2025). The 2026 Scholars are: Holley Akers, O'Rourke and Akers, Jacksonville; Florida Coastal School of Law, 2010 Brena Bergman, Goodman McGuffey, Orlando; University of Florida College of Law, 2020 Natalie Cavallaro, Morgan & Morgan, Tallahassee; Cooley Law School, 2015 Isidora Eickelmann, Work Injury Rights, Coral Springs; Florida International University, College of Law, 2015 Ingrid Hagerty, Moran, Kidd, Lyons, et. al., Miami Lakes...
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Academy and Masterclass 2025

The Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims announces the 2025 OJCC Academy program! The Orlando District Office  will host two programs produced by the Academy Steering Committee. Each is IN PERSON in Orlando, not available by Zoom. The two programs are: The 2025 Paralegal Masterclass "Getting it Done" - on October 23, 2025; 1:30 to 4:30. Masterclass application here . The OJCC Work Comp Academy "The Next Generation" - on October 24, 2025; 8:00-4:00. Attorney application here . The Paralegal Masterclass is designed to be a deep dive into the challenges of Florida workers' compensation litigation - specifically for the non-attorney. There will be information on process, procedure, and the e-JCC filing system. This is now approved for CLE for attorneys or Registered Paralegals!     Application and details for the Paralegal Masterclass here . The Work Comp Academy is in its third year, and continuing a path of excellence. The program is designed for the...
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Scholars 2025 Concludes!

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The OJCC team spent a year planning and implementing the OJCC Scholars 2025 program. It launched in August ( see Scholars First ) and induced 9 months of intensive introspection about this community and practice. We concluded at the Forum in April with two substantive presentations and an inspirational commencement speech by the inimitable Glen Weiland, Esq.  We are proud of this effort, this participation, and this achievement. We look now to launch the Scholars 2026. If you are interested, contact any Judge of Compensation Claims to be considered. All participants are nominated by the judges and selected by the Scholars Committee. Pictured from the commencement are:  Judge Ralph Humpries, Glenys Domingo, Aimee Gartland, Elizabeth Yohe, Spencer Shaw, Judge Margret Kerr, Aimee DeGuzman, Bryan Greenberg, Gabriela Sifontes, Mediator AnnaMarie Kim, Damon Pichoff, Stacey Laskin, Gina Jacobs, Glen Weiland, Judge Jonathan Walker, and Judge Langham. The OJCC Scholars program was an ...
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Historic News and 440 Reports

In 1997-98, George Kagan was the editor of the 2oth Anniversary issue of the News & 440 Report. He devoted Volume XX, No. 1 and No. 2 to recounting the amazing history of the Florida Bar Workers' Compensation section.  He was celebrating his years as Editor and telling a story. George has always been exceptional at telling a story.  He noted that "there were side fluctuations in frequency and size of the" News between inception of the section and its decennial (1974-1984). He credited Steve Rissman as the first Editor until 1981, followed by Jonathan Alpert, Steve Kronenberg, and Peter Burkhart for a year each until George took over in 1984.  The issues include full verbatim republication of early Kagan articles, and mention of iconic figures like those above and Jack Miller, Al Frierson, and Stephen Slepin. There is credit for all these, but it can be said that the 440 Report as we now know it owes much to Mr. Kagan. This is echoed in the Volume XX, No.1 Editor notes...
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