New Mediator in St. Petersburg

Effective February 4, 2019, Rochelle Lefler will be the state mediator in the St. Petersburg OJCC Office. She is taking over for Judge Young as she assumes the bench in Tampa.

Most recently, Ms. Lefler has been a private mediator at Lefler Dispute Resolution Services in Tampa. She has been mediating civil, family, and workers' compensation cases; she also provided Medicare Set-Aside compliance services. Ms. Lefler has a significant background in legal practice, mediation, and workers' compensation specifically. Many will remember her previous service as a State Mediator in 2000-2001 in the St. Petersburg District. 

Ms. Lefler earned her Juris Doctor at Stetson University College of Law, and her B.A. from University of Tampa. We are happy to welcome her back to the OJCC!  

A New Inn of Court in Miami

I was very proud on January 17, 2019 to attend the inaugural dinner of the Richard Sicking Inn of Court in Miami. This is the FOURTH Florida workers' compensation inn. The movement began in Jacksonville with the E. Robert Williams Inn. Next, the William Wieland Inn was organized in Orlando. Then the The Tampa Bay Workers Compensation and Disability American Inn of Court was formed more recently. Then, in 2019 the Richard A. Sicking American Inn of Court was launched. 

I have been proud to support the Inns of Court movement for almost twenty years. It is an exceptional concept, driven by goals of professionalism and mentoring. I congratulate the Sicking Inn, and the 50 exceptional judges and lawyers that are inaugural members. I also congratulate the judges that have agreed to be honorary members, supporting the ideals and mission of the group!

Judge Sylvia Medina-Shore

Daron Fitch

Frank Garcia

Charles M. Hill

Janelys Holland

Ivan Morales

Eduardo Neret 

Virna Roa

Christine Santisteban

Richard Sicking

Judge Margret Kerr

Mercedes de los Santos

Javier Finlay

Suzanne Gorowitz

Carolina Hernandez

Ignacio Rodriguez

Robert Rodriguez 

Henry Roman 

Cory Schnepper

Mark Touby

Lorraine Young

Judge Edward Almeyda

Richard Chait

Rangel Cruz

Karen Gilmartin 

Tom Glick

Ryan Knight

Ramon Malca

Michele Ready

Richard Robbins

Mariam Yanes

Judge Walter Havers

Matthew Colon

Matthew Ferran

Leopolda Garcia 

Rhonda Lapin

Vanessa Lipsky

Ileana Marcos

Darien McMillan

Steven Miller

Salvatore Sicuso

Judge Jeffrey Jacobs

Jeanette Edwards 

James Fee

Ashley Fuxa

Gloria Garcia

Christopher Hessen

Stacey Laskin

Christopher McClure

Dawn Traverso

Mark Zientz

The honorary members are:

Judge Iliana Forte (FTL)

Judge Daniel Lewis (FTL)

Judge Keef Owens (PSL)

Judge Neal Pitts (ORL)

Judge Michael Ring (FTL)

Help Wanted St. Petersburg

State Mediator Wanted

St. Petersburg District Office

Position posted on www.peoplefirst.com

Vacancy is immediate. Application deadline is
January 21, 2019


Senior Attorney/State Mediator-OJCC - 72003531
Date: Jan 7, 2019
Location: SAINT PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33701

Requisition No: 51733
Agency: Division of Administrative Hearings
Working Title: Senior Attorney/State Mediator-OJCC - 72003531
Position Number: 72003531
Salary: $76,947.60
Posting Closing Date: 01/21/2019

Description:
This position is Mediator for the Judgers of Compensation Claims Office and mediates workers' compensation cases.

Qualifications:
Must be a member of The Florida Bar for at least 5 years, must have completed a Florida Supreme Court certified circuit civil mediation program and must be certified as a circuit civil mediator by the Florida Supreme Court.

Duties:
Below are examples of duties which may be assigned to this position by the supervising Judge: 

Coordinating and setting mediation conferences with the OJCC, claimants, employers, carriers and their attorneys (if represented).

Conducting mediation conferences with the parties to contested workers compensation claims in an attempt to help resolve issues and settle claims.

Answer inquiries of parties regarding the workers’ compensation adjudication process and mediation process.

Provide input for the formulation of and amendments to the rules of procedure regarding the mediation process.

Maintain accurate records regarding the disposition of claims and preparing reports required by law or deemed necessary by the assigned JCC.

Traveling, where necessary, to conduct mediation conferences.



Successful completion of Level 2 background screening is required for all positions with the Division of Administrative Hearings.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

To apply: Application must be submitted though People First at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/ .

Update on Tampa Appointment

Recently, Governor Scott appointed new Judges of Compensation Claims in Ft. Lauderdale (Hon. Michael Ring) and Tampa (Hon. Rita Young) and reappointed judges in Jacksonville and Pensacola. Details are in Appointments and Reappointments. 

There was some flurry of inquiry the following Monday as some questioned why both Tampa positions were not filled. I can unequivocally answer this question: "I don't know." I have every reason to believe that the second vacant position will in fact be filled.

It is clear that Judge Young replaces Judge Douglas Spangler, as the Governor specifically said so. But, there was some question whether Judge Young was appointed from the "position one" list or the "position two" list, as Judge Young was nominated for each (for details see August JCC Nominees Announced).

I have since been provided clarification. The Governor's office filled the vacancy created by Judge Spangler's retirement, appointing Judge Young, from the "position one" list, which included:

Brian Anthony 

Lawrence Anzalone 

Rita Lawton Young

Thus, the candidates for filling the vacancy created by Judge Lorenzen's retirement are those on the "position two" list, which included:

Brian Anthony 

Tonya Ann Oliver 

Rita Lawton Young 

And, which now includes only Mr. Anthony and Ms. Oliver. As further information becomes available, it will be posted here.

Reappointment and Appointment of Judges

Friday, January 4, 2019 Governor Rick Scott announced the reappointment and appointment of Judges of Compensation Claims: 

Ray Holley, 49, of Jacksonville, is reappointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Jacksonville District. He has served the Jacksonville District since 2010. Holley received both his bachelor’s and law degree from Stetson University.

Ralph Humphries, 66, of Jacksonville is reappointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Jacksonville District. He has served the Jacksonville District since 2010. Humphries received both his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Florida. 

Nolan Winn, 65, of Gulf Breeze, is reappointed as a Judge of Compensation Claim for the Pensacola District. He has served the Pensacola district since 2006. Winn received his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and his law degree from Tulane Law School. 

Rita Lawton Young, 59, of St. Petersburg, is appointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Tampa District. Young is a State Mediator and Senior Attorney for the Division of Administrative Hearings. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and both her master’s and law degree from the University of Florida. She fills the vacancy created by retirement of Judge Spangler. 

Michael Ring, 59, of Lighthouse Point, is appointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Fort Lauderdale District. Ring is the owner of the Law Office of Michael J. Ring, P.A. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the Nova University School of Law. Ring fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Hogan.