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TERRY L. SMITH
Attorney at Law
Managing Attorney
Certified Specialist, Workers' Compensation Law
The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
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BIOGRAPHY
Terry L. Smith is currently the Managing Attorney of the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly's San Fernando Valley office location. Mr. Smith is a Certified Specialist in California Workers' Compensation Law and has defended insurance carriers, private employers, public agencies, self-insured employers, administrators, school districts, and transit districts. He is a Trial attorney litigating special investigation cases, serious willful violations claims, §132(a) claims and appellate work.
Mr. Smith served as a Deputy Sheriff for the County of Ventura and has worked for the Ventura District Attorney's office. Mr. Smith began his worker's compensation career as a claims adjuster and then as an attorney working at a national insurance carrier specializing in Special Investigations Unit (SIU) cases.
He has lectured to insurance company's claims units and employers in association with the Employer's Fraud Task Force and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. |
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HAILEY M. BENTON
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
Hailey M. Benton is an associate attorney with the firm’s Thousand Oaks office. Ms. Benton earned her B.S. in Industrial Organization Psychology from Pepperdine University. Upon graduation she began her career in a human resources and employee benefits consulting firm. She returned to Pepperdine University for law school and became an active member of several student societies and competed in appellate advocacy tournaments. After her first year, Ms. Benton served as a summer clerk for Chief Judge Tacha of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Benton also spent several years clerking in a downtown Los Angeles civil litigation firm. Since graduation in 2008, Ms. Benton has served as a Director of Human Resources; a board member of a non-profit foundation; a human resources and employment law consultant; and an employment specialist for her alma mater. She remains active in several non-profit organizations and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. |
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TIARA L. BURNETTE
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
Tiara L. Burnette is an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in our firm's Thousand Oaks office location. Ms. Burnette earned her Bachelor's Degree at Minnesota State University before going on to earn her Juris Doctorate Degree from Hamline University School of Law.
While attending college and law school, Ms. Burnette received numerous awards and honors. She earned the Honors Apprentice Academic scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Minnesota State University. She earned the Presidential Academic scholarship for law school, was a member of the National Moot Court team, and was on the Dean's List. She also served two federal judicial internships before moving to the private sector.
Ms. Burnette represents third party administrators, insurance companies, self-insured entities, and employers in all aspects of workers' compensation defense before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and also defends individuals in criminal matters before the Superior Court of California. |
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ELIZABETH (BETTY) HERSCHEL Hearing Representative
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BIOGRAPHY
Elizabeth L. Herschel is a Hearing Representative with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in the firm's Thousand Oaks office location.
Ms. Herschel has been with the firm since June of 2006. Ms. Herschel was previously employed with Miller & Associates for 14 years.
Ms. Herschel is currently focusing her attention in the Thousand Oaks Lien Unit. She negotiates and resolves all lien matters as well as attends Lien Hearings at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). |
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JASON C. HILFRINK
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
Jason C. Hilfrink is an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in our firm's Thousand Oaks office location. Mr. Hilfrink's expertise is dedicated to the representation of employers, insurance entities, self-insured entities and third party administrators in all aspects of California workers' compensation law.
Mr. Hilfrink has also been heavily involved with FSK Publishing. He has worked closely with retired Judge David W. O'Brien on such esteemed publications as California Workers' Compensation Claims and Benefits (10th, 11th and 12th Editions) and California Unemployment and Disability Compensation Programs (10th Edition).
Currently, he also prepares and writes Floyd, Skeren & Kelly's monthly newsletter sent to over 1,000 readers. In the past, Mr. Hilfrink was also a staff member for the National Journal of Administrative Law Judges. |
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JAMES K. LOWERY
Attorney at Law
Certified Specialist, Workers' Compensation Law
The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
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BIOGRAPHY
James K. Lowery is an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in our firm's Thousand Oaks office location. After receiving his Bachelor's Degree from California State University, Northridge, Mr. Lowery moved forward to obtain his Juris Doctorate Degree at the University of La Verne College of Law.
Prior to joining the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly in 2003, Mr. Lowery had obtained years of experience in standard workers' compensation defense as well as expertise in the myriad of nuances in handling complex and high exposure lien matters.
Mr. Lowery currently represents employers, insurance companies, third party administrators and uninsured employers in all matters before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). |
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JOHN W. MILLER
Attorney at Law |
BIOGRAPHY
John W. Miller is affiliated with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in an of counsel position working closely with the firm's Thousand Oaks office location. Mr. Miller obtained his Undergraduate Bachelor's Degree from the University of San Fernando Valley before going on to obtain his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of San Fernando College of Law.
Following receipt of his Juris Doctorate Degree, Mr. Miller quickly founded one of Southern California's most reputable law offices, Miller & Folse, in 1974 where he focused on the litigation of all aspects of workers' compensation matters including standard litigation, §132(a) discrimination claims and serious and willful misconduct allegations. Mr. Miller has also had substantial experience in litigating insurance coverage issues.
In addition to a welcome affiliation with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly which began in 2007, Mr. Miller has also served as a Judge Pro Tem with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB), has been an Arbitrator for the WCAB and an Instructor teaching workers' compensation for employers at the University of California in Los Angeles. Mr. Miller is a highly sought after lecturer by many business and insurance industry groups. |
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PETER R. NELSON
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
Peter R. Nelson is an associate and senior trial attorney in the firm's Thousand Oaks office. Mr. Nelson is a highly effective and successful defense attorney. He is certified as a lecturer by the State Bar of California Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Program, is the author of multiple publications in the areas of workers’ compensation and claims handling, and is extensively trained with experience in the specialized area of fraud defense. He is a featured lecturer at numerous seminars to employer groups, trade organizations, human resources personnel, and claims examiners. In addition to workers’ compensation, Mr. Nelson has considerable experience in state and federal court civil litigation. Because of his background as a former private investigator, he is particularly attuned to correct and cost effective investigative techniques and has overseen numerous complex investigations. Mr. Nelson has also acted as an invited judge at the prestigious National Civil Trial Competition hosted by Loyola Law School. |
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ROBERT C. NICHOLS
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
Robert C. Nichols is an associate and senior trial attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in the firms' Thousand Oaks office. He is a graduate of Cal State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and was awarded a Juris Doctor Degree, Cum Laude, from the San Fernando Valley College of Law.
For over thirty years, Mr. Nichols has specialized in the defense of all aspects of Workers' Compensation matters including all standard issues, discrimination claims filed under Labor Code §132(a) and Serious and Willful Claims, at both the trial and the appellate levels. He has also handled subrogation matters and the defense of personal injury matters. Mr. Nichols has tried numerous cases before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and appeared before the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court. Mr. Nichols works closely with self-insured employers, third party administrators and insurance carriers.
Mr. Nichols has been a lecturer at the California Self-Insurers Association, California Manufacturers Association and numerous claims organizations. He has also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and the Los Angeles Superior Courts.
In addition to his legal experience, Mr. Nichols has worked for over 23 years as a Certified Level I Reserve Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and has worked uniform patrol, Special Problems Unit, Divisional Vice and Detective Headquarters Motorcycle Gang Unit. His experience has included representing officer in discipline matters at the trial and appellate levels and the representation of officers in civil rights matters. |
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ROBERT A. ROSE
Attorney at Law
Certified Specialist, Workers' Compensation Law
The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
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BIOGRAPHY
Robert A. Rose is an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in our firm's Thousand Oaks office location. Mr. Rose obtained his Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge, before going on to obtain his Juris Doctorate Degree with Pepperdine University School of Law.
Mr. Rose has over 16 years experience in workers' compensation matters ranging from standard litigation of workers' compensation claims to defense of serious and willful misconduct allegations. Throughout his career, Mr. Rose has represented employers, insurance companies, third party administrators and uninsured employers in all aspects of workers' compensation litigation. |
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ANGELA J. SHUTTY
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
Angela J. Shutty is an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in our firm's San Fernando Valley office location.
Originally from the state of Pennsylvania, Ms. Shutty began her corporate career at the Corporate Headquarters of the Rite Aid Corporation located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania subsequent to obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and also obtaining a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
Working in all phases of corporate taxation at that position, she developed an interest in the legal field and relocated to California to pursue a Law Degree at the University of San Diego where she obtained her Juris Doctorate Degree. Combining her interests in tax and accounting drew her to Price Waterhouse in Los Angeles to become a tax attorney.
For more than 15 years, she has worked solely in the field of workers' compensation defense as an attorney representing insurance carriers and employers. |
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DAVID M. WEITZMAN
Attorney at Law
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BIOGRAPHY
David M. Weitzman is an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in our firm's Thousand Oaks office location. After obtaining his Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Mr. Weitzman continued on to obtain his Juris Doctorate Degree from Southwestern School of Law.
Prior to joining the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly in 2006, Mr. Weitzman developed years of experience with civil litigation and workers' compensation matters and has brought this experience to our firm. Mr. Weitzman handles all aspects of workers' compensation litigation including civil subrogation, standard litigation, §132(a) discrimination allegations and serious and willful misconduct allegations.
Prior to beginning his undergraduate and law school studies, Mr. Weitzman served honorably in the United States Air Force as a Security Specialist. |
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