American College of Trial Lawyers Chooses Lukey
Notable Attorneys
WilmerHale Partner Joan Lukeywas selected on March 5 to become the next President-Elect of theAmerican College of Trial Lawyers’ (ACTL). Ms. Lukey is the first womanever to serve in this capacity and was chosen for the role by the PastPresidents of this prestigious organization. She will serve asTreasurer and President-Elect Designate until September, when she willofficially assume her new position.
Ms. Lukey willautomatically ascend to the position of President at the Annual Meetingof the ACTL held in Boston in October of 2009.
"This is theproudest achievement of my professional career,” Ms. Lukey said. “Tohave risen to the highest level in this organization comprised of thoseattorneys who have been recognized as the best of the trial bar is bothexhilarating and humbling."
The ACTL is composed of Fellowswho represent the finest of the trial bar in the US and Canada. Foundedin 1950, the College is dedicated to maintaining and improving thestandards of trial practice and the administration of justice.Membership in the college is by invitation only after a rigorousscreening process involving current Fellows and state and federaljudges in the state or province in which a nominee practices.
Related listings
-
Judge Linda Miller Recognized for 25 years of Service
Notable Attorneys 03/02/2008Judge Linda Miller was honored for her 25 years of service as a judicial officer by the OCBA Family Law section at their February meeting. Over 200 members of the section attended the monthly meeting held at the Turnip Rose in Orange.
-
King Yaklin Wins $1M in Attorney's Fee's
Notable Attorneys 02/29/2008A Superior Court judge has ordered a couple and their attorney suingBishop Earl Paulk to pay more than $1 million in legal fees and courtcosts from a dismissed case. Mona and Bobby Brewer sued Paulk and his church, then known as ChapelHill Harvester ...
-
Two new commissioners seated
Notable Attorneys 02/28/2008The Pacifica City Council appointed Josh Gordon and Celeste Langille to the Pacifica Planning Commission Feb. 11. Josh Gordon is an attorney with the San Francisco firm Morrison and Forester. He worked for a federal judge in San Francisco for one yea...
Workers’ Compensation Subrogation of Administrative Fees and Costs
When a worker covered by workers’ compensation makes a claim against a third party, the workers’ compensation insurance retains the right to subrogate against any recovery from that third party for all benefits paid to or on behalf of a claimant injured at work. When subrogating for more than basic medical and indemnity benefits, the Texas workers’ compensation subrogation statute provides that “the net amount recovered by a claimant in a third‑party action shall be used to reimburse the carrier for benefits, including medical benefits that have been paid for the compensable injury.” TX Labor Code § 417.002.
In fact, all 50 states provide for similar subrogation. However, none of them precisely outlines which payments or costs paid by a compensation carrier constitute “compensation” and can be recovered. The result is industry-wide confusion and an ongoing debate and argument with claimants’ attorneys over what can and can’t be included in a carrier’s lien for recovery purposes.
In addition to medical expenses, death benefits, funeral costs and/or indemnity benefits for lost wages and loss of earning capacity resulting from a compensable injury, workers’ compensation insurance carriers also expend considerable dollars for case management costs, medical bill audit fees, rehabilitation benefits, nurse case worker fees, and other similar fees. They also incur other expenses in conjunction with the handling and adjusting of workers’ compensation claims. Workers’ compensation carriers typically assert, of course, that, they are entitled to reimbursement for such expenditures when it recovers its workers’ compensation lien. Injured workers and their attorneys disagree.