Long-time Illinois Arbitrators Reappointed

August 28, 2024

 

 

12 Named as Illinois WCC Arbitrators, Including 10 Reappointments

  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday reappointed 10 arbitrators to the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission and named two new arbitrators, according to a statement from his office.
  • The new appointees are Luana Montoya and Daniel Swanson. Montoya began her career with the City of Chicago’s Department of Law as an assistant corporation counsel in its workers’ compensation section. Since 2020, Montoya has served as a supervising attorney with the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission.
  • Swanson is currently a partner at the law firm Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzi, & Lowry, P.C. He has more than 30 years of experience in workers’ compensation law, having successfully litigated over 250 cases before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, Illinois Circuit Courts, and the Illinois Appellate Court.
  • Arbitrators whose terms have been extended include Joseph Amarilio, who has served as a WCC arbitrator since 2019; Paul Cellini, who has served since 2015; Crystal Caison, who has served since 2021; Gerald Granada, who has served since 2011; Jessica Hegarty, who has served since 2015; and, Adam Hinrichs, who has served since 2019.
  • Also reappointed are: Jeffrey Huebsch, who has served as a WCC arbitrator since 2013; Nina Mariano, who has served since 2021; Maureen Pulia, who has served since 2003, after joining the WCC in 1997 as a public service administrator and staff attorney for the Public Member Commissioner; and, Ana Vazquez, who has served since 2021.
    READ MORE

 

Texas DWC Sets Sessions on Dispute Resolution

  • The Texas Department of Workers’ Compensation will offer six brown-bag discussions across the state to discuss the agency’s dispute resolution, beginning Sept. 14 in Houston.
  • The topics to be covered include: Legislative updates that may affect hearings, including online contested case hearings; Status of new BRO-I process that identifies disputes needing a presiding officer’s directive; Practice and procedure updates for the Appeals Panel; and, Proposals to create efficiencies in docketing proceedings to reduce continuances.
  • DWC executives participating include: Allen Craddock, Deputy Commissioner of Hearings; Kara Squier, Director of the Appeals Panel; Tiffany Duarte, Director of Dispute Processing; Gerri-Lyn Thomas, Director of Northwestern Regions; and, Jeff Carothers, Director of Southeastern Regions.
    READ MORE