Meet the Experts April 2026
Save the Date - The April 17, 2026 (noon Eastern) program will feature advice on preparing for, taking, and presenting expert deposition testimony!
Meet the Experts
How to take a
logical, focused, and effective expert deposition time and again.
Friday, April 17,
2026
This one-hour CLE program
provides Florida workers' compensation practitioners with a structured,
practical framework for preparing, conducting, and following up on medical
witness depositions. The course addresses the full lifecycle of expert medical testimony
— from pre-deposition preparation and records review through examination
strategy and post-deposition considerations. Equal attention is given to
substantive litigation strategy and the ethical obligations governing attorney
conduct during depositions, including obligations to the tribunal, candor to
the court, and professional conduct toward opposing counsel and witnesses. The
program draws on real-world scenarios in Florida workers' compensation
proceedings before the Office of Judges of Compensation Claims (OJCC) and is
designed to address both claimant and defense perspectives.
Speakers: Cathy Agacinski, Judge Erik B. Grindal, Robert J. Rodriguez, and Stephen B. Wilson
Cathy
Agacinski
Cathy Agacinski has been practicing since 1992. She
specializes in workers compensation and has substantial experience in personal
injury litigation. She has prevailed over the insurance companies and their
lawyers in countless workers' compensation trials. Her reputation of never
backing down and fighting for her client’s rights is well known throughout the
community. Natalie Adams has been licensed to practice law since September of
2015, and is a member of the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, as well
as the Young Lawyers Division, and the Workers' Compensation sections of the
Florida Bar. In addition, Natalie is one of the youngest members of the
Workers' Compensation Inns of Court.
Judge
Erik B. Grindal
Following graduation from Wake Forest University,
Judge Grindal began his career in Workers’ Compensation in 1992 as an adjuster
for FCCI Mutual. While at FCCI, he earned his Associate in Claims designation
from the Insurance Institute of America. Judge Grindal left adjusting in 1995
to attend law school at St. Thomas University School of Law. While in law
school, he was placed on the Dean’s List for all six semesters and was awarded
the “Book Award” as the best student in the study of Workers’ Compensation by
Adjunct Professor, Thomas Conroy. Judge Grindal graduated cum laude from St.
Thomas University School of Law in 1998 and was ranked in the top 10% of his
class. Judge Grindal was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1998. Over the course
of his career, Judge Grindal has represented injured workers, employers and carriers.
He has also represented corporate clients in complex commercial litigation,
Federal maritime matters, and argued before the First District Court of Appeal.
He is Board Certified in Workers' Compensation and was appointed as a Judge of
Compensation Claims in 2020 by Governor DeSantis.
Robert J. Rodriguez
Robert J. Rodriguez is a
renowned Workers’ Compensation litigator in the state of Florida as well as the
Managing Partner of MKRS Law. As the Managing Partner, he provides vision and
direction to all firm operations ensuring the firm’s highest level of quality
client service. He is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the
Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. For all of his
contributions to the workers’ compensation field, Mr. Rodriguez has been
recognized by the National Registry of Who’s Who in Executives &
Professionals. He was recently recognized by the South Florida Legal Guide as
both a ‘Top Lawyer in South Florida’ as well as a ‘Top Lawyer in Practice
Area’. He has been listed by Best Lawyers and has been listed in Florida Super
Lawyers since its inception. Mr. Rodriguez has been granted the highest rating
for legal ability and ethical standards by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell
indicating his professional excellence. Despite his demanding schedule, Mr.
Rodriguez continues to maintain an active speaking schedule on the topic of
workers’ compensation, regularly presenting to attorneys and professionals
alike. He was a member of the Executive Council of the Workers’ Compensation
Section of The Florida Bar from1996 to 2004, where he served as the
Vice-Chairman of the Professionalism Committee, Chairman of the Agency for
Health Care Administration Liaison Committee, and as Vice-Chairman of the
Legislation Committee.
Stephen B. Wilson
Stephen is a Florida Bar Board
Certified Workers’ Compensation specialist. Stephen has been a member of the
Florida Bar since 1997. He has represented injured workers, and
employer/carriers for over 20 years. He is a trial specialist and has litigated
over 250 contested workers’ compensation Final Hearings. His practice also
includes personal injury, Longshore and Harbor Workers Act, Defense Base Act
and Social Security Disability cases. Stephen has been recognized as a
SuperLawyer in the SuperLawyer magazine’s section on workers’ compensation. He
was rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, the preeminent attorney rating service. He
is a frequent lecturer on employment and workers’ compensation related topics. Stephen Wilson is a 3rd generation Floridian
who was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Stephen was raised in Central Florida,
and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in
History. He received his Juris Doctor with Honors from the St. Thomas
University School of Law. When not advocating for the rights of injured
parties, Stephen loves to spend time with his wife and two children. Stephen is
an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys south Florida’s fishing and beaches.
