Workers' Compensation

I am a State Bar Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation and the Past President of the Southern California Applicants’ Attorneys’ Association. I’ve dedicated my career to helping injured workers' and their families for over 14 years navigate the complicated process of workers compensation and pursue all of the benefits due to them. I handle all size cases from catastrophic injuries requiring lifelong future medical care to minor injuries where the injured worker just needs someone to help monitor the case. I represent all kinds of workers, including construction workers, drivers, truck drivers, loaders and unloaders, nurses, teachers and teacher aids, police officers, airline workers, secretaries and office clerks, retail workers and more. I am recognized as a Super Lawyer for Workers’ Compensation in Los Angeles and was selected in 2017, 2016 and 2015 as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, an award that is given to only 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state. If you have a question about your particular situation, let me personally answer it for you. I earned my J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and my B.A. in psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara, where I served as president of my fraternity. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and now live in Los Angeles with my beautiful wife and daughter. In my free time I volunteer as a youth sports coach for basketball and football and have been doing so for over 20 years. I give all my clients the 1-1 time that they need and will do the same for you. Please call and email me anytime. All my consultations are FREE.

David F. Stern, Esquire is the President and Partner at the Law Firm, Stern & Cohen, PC. Dave was born and raised in Northern Virginia just off the Beltway outside Washington D.C. Dave’s father was a Federal Judge. His understanding of how to be an advocate began at an early age as he had the opportunity to travel with his father on occasions and observe Federal trials. Many disputes were resolved at the kitchen table with a good, courtroom-like debate. Dave excelled early on in academics and also on the baseball field. Dave played in the athletic conference with the largest high schools in the state of Virginia. This area is a hotbed for baseball talent. His senior season, Dave’s high school team lost in the state championship, but local papers wrote articles about how this would likely be the best team in program history. Dave then took his academic and athletic prowess to the University of Delaware. Dave earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, a concentration that he knew would serve him well in business after he went to Law School. He was also a four-year letterman for the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens Division One baseball program. College baseball is not heralded like football and basketball, so it was a well-kept secret that Delaware’s baseball program was one of the best in the country. From 1994-1997, Delaware won over 40 games every season while Dave was there. He ended his career with double-digit wins, including a sparkling senior season when he went 8-3 on the mound. The team was nationally-ranked many weeks in the Top 25. Perhaps Dave’s finest achievements during these seasons was his consistent placement on the Academic Dean’s List. Dave was able to maintain exemplary grades while playing a vigorous schedule with 6-7 games per week. While his classmates had plenty of time to study, play video games, and socialize, Dave went from classroom to weight room to practice to library with no time to ever spare. It was these experiences that Dave credits as the foundation for the lawyer and business-owner that he has become today. Intangibles of hard work, dedication, time management, being a team player, and managing pressure scenarios were developed through these valuable life experiences. Following college, Dave reluctantly hung up his spikes and attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. While in law school, Dave took a course in Workers’ Compensation Law and earned an “A” in the class. This was his first exposure to this line of law and it instantly intrigued him. Dave graduated from Pitt in 2000 and immediately passed the Pennsylvania Bar Examination. Following his success of the Pennsylvania Bar Examination, he was hired that fall by a large, reputable insurance defense firm and was conveniently placed in their workers’ compensation defense department. He defended workers’ compensation cases on behalf of local employers and insurance carriers. Dave cut his teeth in this area of law and began to learn the nuances of the laws. Dave still credits this four-year experience at a defense firm as giving him the unique ability to “understand how the other side thinks.” Dave’s talents were recognized quickly and law firms that represented injured workers began to approach him about changing sides. In 2004, Dave joined a large firm that represented injured workers. Dave had already developed the perfect skill set to represent injured Pennsylvanians. He had a meteoric rise at this Firm and became one of the youngest (if not the youngest) partners in the Firm’s history. However, he ultimately decided the best path forward would be to start his own Firm, where his visions and strategies for representing injured workers could be best put on display. The Firm, Stern & Cohen, got its start in late December 2019 with an official launch date of January 1, 2020. Under Dave’s management, Stern & Cohen has grown at a rapid rate. The Firm moved into new office space in the summer of 2023. Dave has personally hired every lawyer and staff member and is exceptionally proud of the Team that has been built. Dave has mentored dozens of workers’ compensation lawyers over the years. Without hesitation, however, he has the utmost confidence that the Stern & Cohen legal team is the best he has ever built and mentored. Dave’s excellence in the legal industry has been recognized time and time again. Dave frequently gets calls from clients directed to him by defense attorneys, claims representatives and former judges. The fact that these individuals want their family member or friend to be represented by Dave speaks to his reputation in the field. All the various publications have showered Dave with awards over the years. Dave has been selected a Super Lawyer® nearly every year for two decades, including most recently in 2024. On multiple occasions, based on the results of voting of his peers, that publication listed him amongst the Top 100 Lawyers in both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia – a rare recognition for a claimants’ workers’ compensation lawyer. Dave has been chosen to the Best Lawyers® list every year for almost a decade. In 2019, he was awarded The Philadelphia Business Journal ‘Best of the Bar’® distinction – the only workers’ compensation attorney rewarded this prestigious recognition. He was also identified as one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by The National Trial Lawyers Top 100®. Dave has authored numerous published articles in the area of workers’ compensation law and has been a frequent lecturer in the field. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Dave is on the Board of Governers for the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers’ Association and has previously served leadership roles for the Pennsylvania Association For Justice. Dave is also part of the Workers Injury Law Advocacy Group (WILG). For years, Dave has taken on pro bono cases for the Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (Philly VIP) and was enrolled numerous years in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Pro Bono Roll of Honor and was previously recognized as Philly VIP’s Volunteer of the Month.

Cory A. Santos, Sr., Esq. is the owner/manager of Santos Law, PLLC. Attorney Santos has a long and distinguished history of helping clients throughout Nevada by equalizing the playing field for his clients. Practicing mainly in Workers’ Compensation, Entertainment Law, Personal Injury, and Criminal Law, he has helped thousands of clients over the last two decades. Mr. Santos has litigated several cases up to the Nevada Supreme Court. He was successful in a major precedent setting case in workers’ compensation. In Flamingo Hilton v. Gilbert, 122 Nev. 1279, 148 P.3d 738 (2006), the treating physician stated that the injured worker required ongoing medications to maintain maximum medical improvement (MMI), however, then inappropriately stated that the injured worker needed to pay for the medications with his own private insurance once the case closed after he took his Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) settlement. After several appeals, the Nevada Supreme Court agreed with Attorney Santos’ argument and now injured workers are able to accept their PPD and the insurance company has to provide ongoing medical maintenance if the physician recommends it to maintain MMI status. This case opened the door for injured workers to finally not have to utilize their PPD settlement or their own private health insurance to pay for maintenance that the workers compensation insurer is responsible for. Additionally, the Court held that when a doctor provides an opinion which goes beyond a medical opinion but becomes a legal conclusion, it is an improper opinion (in Gilbert, the treating physician stated Mr. Gilbert should use his private health insurance to provide for his medications). Lastly, the Court clarified that when an insurance company issues several determinations regarding a subject (in Gilbert it was claim closure) in a certain time frame, an injured worker need only appeal the last in time determination to perfect an appeal. This decision was a big win for injured workers in Nevada. In another case in which Attorney Santos represented an injured worker before the Nevada Supreme Court, CCSD v. Marshall, (Supreme Court No. 41374 (2005)), the injured worker had surgery on his shoulder and eventually was sent for a PPD evaluation. The first PPD doctor stated that Marshall was entitled to a 10% PPD award. The 10% PPD award was denied by the self-insured CCSD and it had another doctor review the information. The second doctor agreed with the first doctor and stated Marshall should get a 10% award. However, CCSD still refused to pay the 10% award and had a third doctor review the file. The third doctor stated Marshall should only get a 5% PPD award which CCSD then offered to him. Attorney Santos stood behind his client and argued to the Nevada Supreme Court that his client deserved the full 10% PPD award based on the first two doctors’ opinions. The Nevada Supreme Court agreed in an unpublished decision ruling for Marshall. At the forefront of Nevada Workers’ Compensation policy, Attorney Santos has testified before the Nevada Legislature regarding workers’ compensation issues and has written on Nevada Workers’ Compensation law in the Nevada Justice Association magazine, “Advocate”. Attorney Santos has had success in other areas of law for his clients. For example, in the area of Personal Injury, he successfully represented a person injured in the nationally covered infamous Mizpah Hotel Fire in Reno, Nevada obtaining a settlement for his client after a battle with the insurance company. In the area of Entertainment Law, he has been legal counsel for 2 feature films (1 Interrogation, Project: Puppies for Christmas), represented entertainers, producers, directors, musicians, athletes, and well known casting director Marilee Lear of Lear Entertainment. He has a background in acting, having worked in commercials and on several films (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8435386/) which augments his courtroom representation of his clients. In the area of Criminal Law, he has represented individuals charged with misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors and felonies. Charges have ranged from battery, assault, domestic violence and driving violations. He has also represented clients with traffic tickets all across Nevada (Goldfield, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Fernley, Searchlight, Las Vegas, Reno). Attorney Santos’ legal career started out as a law clerk for several law offices in Reno and Las Vegas. The son of Jeannette Santos and legendary trial attorney and Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Herbert J. Santos, Sr., Esq., he learned trial techniques and tactics at a young age watching his father in the courtroom. During law school, he was fortunate to law clerk for several experienced litigation firms. At one firm, he worked on the infamous Equinox pyramid scheme lawsuit. At another firm, he worked on motor vehicle accidents, trip/slip and falls, and premises liability. He also clerked at an insurance defense firm. While at these positions, he learned from some of the most experienced attorneys in southern Nevada. He took this valuable knowledge with him when he was admitted to the Nevada and Utah state Bars, respectively. In 2002, he made the choice to represent injured workers when he accepted a position as a Deputy Attorney for the State of Nevada at Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers where he worked in the Las Vegas office until 2008. He then litigated cases with his brother Joel for ten years. In 2018, he opened Santos Law, PLLC. where he now represents clients in northern and southern Nevada. A native Nevadan, Attorney Santos is proud to be a member of the prestigious charter class of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) William S. Boyd School of Law. At Boyd, he received several scholarships, most notably, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Scholarship and the Boyd School of Law Community Service Scholarship. Prior to receiving his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Boyd, he received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Nevada, where he received several academic scholarships in history. Graduating on the Dean’s List, he majored in history with a minor in criminal justice. At the University of Nevada, he was a member of the Nevada Boxing Team from 1993-1996, wrote for the university newspaper, and was a member of several university organizations. Prior to that, he graduated from Robert McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada in 1993 where he participated on the football and track teams. Attorney Santos is married to an attorney and has four children. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Prospectors' Club in Reno and the FBI InfraGard. Over the years he has been active in various non-profit activities such as serving on the Board of Governors for Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nevada, the Board of Directors for the UNLV Interfaith Student Center, and on the Child Abuse Prevention Council for Olive Crest Homes a

Bill Abbott leads his team of aggressive workers’ compensation lawyers at Abbott & Associates. Although he has handled many different kinds of cases (including personal injury, employment law, maritime offshore injury cases, longshore claims, and more) Bill focuses his firm and practice primarily on representing injured Texas workers. Bill Abbott was raised for most of his life in the Houston, Texas area. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin before attending law school at Texas Tech University. Since 1998 Bill has been licensed to practice in all Texas courts. In 1999, Bill joined the established Ogletree Law Firm, where after becoming a partner, helped grow the firm’s workers’ compensation practice into the largest claimants’ representation firm in the whole state. Bill is the proud husband of Sally Abbott, and father of two sons, Cory and Drew Abbott. He is an active supporter and participant of many youth programs, and stays busy throughout the year overseeing the day-to-day operations of his law firm.

Gene Riddle is a founding member and managing partner of Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, a law firm that employs 9 attorneys with over 160 years of combined legal experience. Gene is quick to stress his family’s deep North Carolina ties. A Stanly County native, he grew up in Aberdeen after moving from Albemarle. He has practiced law in North Carolina since September 1985. Gene’s parents were both educators. His father, a longtime superintendent of Moore County Schools, encouraged him to go to law school after college. Today, Gene believes honesty, integrity and willingness to work hard are the bedrock principles of a good attorney. That is what he and the other lawyers at Riddle & Riddle provide to their injured clients. Gene spends much of his time reviewing cases as well as instructing and supervising attorneys and paralegals. However, he also continues to directly handle cases as the lead attorney and he touches most of the personal injury cases that come into the firm. Gene takes on cases that involve serious personal injury in car accidents, truck accidents, dog bites, premises liability, wrongful death and violations of Constitutional Rights. In every case, Gene’s objective is obtaining an outcome that his client believes is fair. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers serve in surrounding areas of North Carolina, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Charlotte, and more. “The client’s goals are most important,” he says. “That has to be measured by what’s reasonable and what’s fair. Our guiding star is fairness. We’re about fairness. Justice counts.” Gene’s legal accomplishments have earned him several professional honors from his legal peers, including the 2014 Litigator Award. He also has a high AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell as well as designation among the Best Attorneys of America and the American Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Additionally, he earned membership in the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, based on verdicts won and settlements reached. Gene and his wife have two daughters and several pets, including a Westie named "Otis” who has been featured in several videos for the firm. Church activities are also an important part of their lives. In his free time, Gene enjoys several sports, including tennis, golf and skiing. *** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.

Jason Kisner is the founder of Kisner Law, a personal injury and workers' compensation firm serving clients in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Raised in a blue-collar family and having worked for a railroad company before becoming an attorney, Jason understands the struggles faced by working people. He brings this perspective into his practice, offering both compassionate guidance and strong advocacy for those recovering from serious injuries. With degrees from Villanova University, West Virginia University, Florida Coastal School of Law, and The George Washington University Law School, Jason has built a career grounded in knowledge and dedication. His early work in insurance defense provided insight into the tactics companies use to deny or minimize claims, experience that now fuels his commitment to standing up for injury victims. He has tried more than 500 district court cases and over 75 jury trials, taking on corporations and insurers with determination and skill. At Kisner Law, Jason leads a team focused on achieving results while treating every client with care and respect. If you or a loved one has been injured, call Kisner Law today at 240-459-0097 or fill out our contact form to discuss your case and learn how Jason can fight for the compensation you deserve.

Sam Bomier has spent the vast majority of his 30 plus years of experience focusing on workers’ compensation and employment law claims. Working on behalf of injured workers, Sam has dedicated his practice to helping others navigate the complex and ever-changing legal system when it comes to employment and workers’ compensation claims. Bomier is a fierce advocate for those fighting for their rights in this area. His drive and passion for helping his clients has allowed him to help countless individuals receive the benefits they deserve. He has also assisted small businesses in handling all aspects of workers’ compensation and employment law claims, giving him a unique perspective on all of the potential issues that may arise in these types of claims. Though determined and tough, Sam treats every client with compassion and strives to settle their disputes quickly, efficiently, and with the best results possible. As a local lawyer, he knows the people of the community and understands their needs. Call Sam today at (920) 404-2050. Located in Appleton, Sam Bomier can assist you with your workers’ compensation claim and answer any questions you may have about your legal rights.

Based in Greenville, South Carolina, our lawyers have over 40 years of combined experience, we represent individuals, small businesses and corporations throughout South Carolina. Our goal is to provide fair, honest representation and achieve successful results. Our primary focus involves work-related issues arising from on-the-job accidents, repetitive trauma, occupational diseases, exposure to chemicals or other toxins, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. We have participated in hundreds of workers’ compensation hearings over the years. We have experience with catastrophic cases involving permanent brain injury, spinal cord injury, paralysis, and paraplegia. Our emphasis on job-related claims led us into our other practice areas, Immigration, Social Security Disability, and Brain Injury. We have handled numerous Social Security Hearings and Immigration matters. Because of the growing number of Hispanic clients we serve, we have a Spanish speaking paralegal devoted to assisting with their cases. Se Habla Español. For more than 10 years, we have been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell with an AV rating, the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Since our firm was founded, we have been listed every year in A.M. Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys. We also received a “Superb” rating from AVVO, an online lawyer rating service. Our lawyers’ memberships include the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Bar Workers’ Compensation Section, the Greenville County Bar, the South Carolina Bar, the State Bar of Georgia, and the North Carolina State Bar. We want to help our clients better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by their particular situation, keep them informed throughout the process and achieve successful results. Our clients’ interests come first. Flexible fee arrangements, including contingency fees, flat fees, hourly billing, and value based billing are available.

Mark Bates has practiced law for over 30 years, primarily in Missouri and Illinois. He specializes in employment law and workers' compensation. Over his career, he has acted as leading counsel for numerous Fortune 500 companies such as Wal-Mart, Macy's, Dial, Mallinckrodt Chemical, Kroger, TWA, Express Scripts, Johnson Controls, and Owens-Illinois, along with insurance companies such as AIG, Traveler's, Liberty Mutual, Guide One, and Republic Insurance. Mark is also experienced at criminal defense, having worked previously as a military policeman and a MEDICO-Legal Investigator for St. Louis City.

Michael Schreyer is an advocate for the injured. He is a leader among injury attorneys in the state of Maryland, and across the greater Washington, DC region. Mr. Schreyer’s experience and record of success in the courtroom has led to the recognition of his skills, including: a “National Recognition of Achievement in Civil Trial Advocacy” from the Million Dollar Advocates Forum; “Preeminent,” from Martindale-Hubbell; “Superb” from AVVO; as well as membership in Super Lawyers. Mr. Schreyer currently serves as a member of the Interstate Trucking Group of the American Association of Justice, which provides leadership and education for the nation’s advocates for victims of catastrophic injuries in tractor trailer and bus collisions. Mr. Schreyer also serves as a member on the National Advisory Board of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA). He is also an active member of the Medical Malpractice Section of the Maryland Association for Justice. In the past, Mr. Schreyer has served in the position of Chairman of the Negligence, Insurance and Workers’ Compensation Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. He has tried cases and negotiated claims with some of the largest insurance companies in the world. His experience as a personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney has taken him to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States, the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and many of the trial courts in Maryland and Washington, DC. Mr. Schreyer has seen first hand the devastating physical and financial toll an injury can cause when others violate rules of safe conduct. He understands that without a fair and full verdict, an injury victim may never fully recover. Whether he is working on a car collision, truck crash, motorcycle wreck, pedestrian injury, construction catastrophe, medical malpractice or workers’ compensation case, Mr. Schreyer understands that each client faces a unique set of challenges. He applies his extensive knowledge of personal injury law, insurance, evidence, medicine and loss of earnings and disability to address the specific circumstances of each of his clients. He has been doing that since graduating from one of the nation’s top 20 law schools, The Washington and Lee University School of Law, and receiving a Juris Doctorate in 1988. Mr. Schreyer’s passion for aiding others has led him to contribute to a wide variety of organizations, including the Pope John Paul II Academy, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Following the September 11, 2001, Pentagon and Twin Towers attacks, Mr. Schreyer was honored for his charitable representation of a victim through the Trial Lawyers Care Project of the American Association for Justice. While his litigation resulted in an award of more than one million dollars for a wounded hero, he accepted no legal fee for his work.