Ms. Vallejo received her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1992 and her Juris Doctor from Whittier College of Law in 1997. Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation law, Ms. Vallejo has handled all aspects of business litigation, corporate transactional, and insurance defense matters. Additionally, Ms. Vallejo has clerked extensively with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, including their Major Fraud Division, Malibu Municipal and Superior Court, Environmental Crimes Division, and T.R.A.P.
Ms. Vallejo is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Inns of Court, the California State Bar, the Cuban American Bar Association, and the Ventura County and Los Angeles County Bar Associations. Ms. Vallejo is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Matthew D. Crowe received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989 and his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1992. Before joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP, he worked as house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company handling their workers’ compensation claims.
Mr. Crowe currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including 132a and Serious and Willful claims as well as coverage matters. Mr. Crowe is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Terence A. Tungseth received his Juris Doctor in 2000 from Loyola College of Law. He began his career in the Workers’ Compensation field as an adjuster and a hearing representative for eight years prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP.
Mr. Tungseth currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including 132a and Serious and Willful claims as well as coverage matters.
Mr. Tungseth is a certified specialist in Workers' Compensation.
Judith Anne Pirkle received her Juris Doctor degree in 2002 from the Ventura College of Law. She began her career in the workers’ compensation defense field in 1973 at State Compensation Insurance Fund as an Office Services Supervisor III and legal secretary to the senior partner. She moved into the field of legal assistant in 1986 when she began working with Richard Goldman. In 2001 she became Mr. Goldman’s law clerk and in June 2003, joined the firm as an associate representing employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including Labor Code §132a claims, Serious and Willful Misconduct claims, and coverage issues. In addition to handling workers’ compensation matters, she handles civil litigation and is versed in disability retirement claims (PERS and the 1937 County Retirement Act).
Ms. Pirkle is a certified specialist in Workers' Compensation.
Leonard R. Matylewicz, Woodland Hills
Leonard R. Matylewicz received his Juris Doctor Degree from Ventura College of Law in 1989. Mr. Matylewicz has practiced all aspects of workers’ compensation law since 1990. Mr. Matylewicz presently defends insurance carriers and self insured entities in all aspects of workers’ compensation claims including defense of 132 (a) and Serious and Willful claims. In addition, Mr. Matylewicz has experience handling public entity police and fire personnel issues.
Mr. Kendall received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1998. Mr. Kendall is a member of the California State Bar and currently represents self insured’s, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense, including 132a, and serious and willful claims.
Mr. Kendall is a certified specialist in Workers' Compensation.
Deborah E. Winer, Woodland Hills
Deborah E. Winer received her undergraduate degree in 1973 from the University of California at Los Angeles and Université de Bordeaux, France. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1976. Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation law, Ms. Winer represented individual and commercial clients, employers, self-insureds, insurance carriers and third-party administrators in civil litigation and insurance defense matters.
Ms. Winer currently represents self-insureds, employers and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.
Robert B. Stake, San Luis Obispo
Robert B. Stake attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California where he majored in Public Relations and European History. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law in 1989. Mr. Stake has been practicing workers compensation law since 1989, and previously managed his own law firm before joining Goldman, Magdalin and Krikes in 2005. Mr. Stake has developed computer software for the workers compensation community, including permanent disability rating and case management software applications.
Mr. Stake is a member of the State Bar of California, the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the United States Federal Courts. Mr. Stake is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Diane D. Herold received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1977. She received her Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1990. Ms. Herold is a member of the State Bar of California and has been practicing workers compensation law since 1993. She currently represents self-insureds, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense.
Ms. Herold is a certified specialist in Workers' Compensation.
Mr. Preece received his Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University of Law in 1986. Mr. Preece has over twenty years of workers’ compensation defense experience including 132a, serious and willful and insurance coverage issues with a special emphasis on Appelate work including Statutory and Discretionary Writs and Petitions for Reconsideration. Mr. Preece is a certified specialist in workers' compensation and a member of the California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys Association.
Jo Anne Morales received her Juris Doctorate Degree from San Joaquin College of Law in 2000. Ms. Morales has been employed as a Workers’ Compensation Defense attorney since 2004.
Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation defense, Ms. Morales gained valuable trial experience in civil matters and as a Public Defender for the County of Madera.
Robert F. Spoeri, Woodland Hills
Robert F. Spoeri earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Loyola University Chicago. He studied law at Loyola (Chicago) and at the National University of Ireland (Dublin). He served as an intern at the N.L.R.B. and received his J.D. from Loyola in 1977. In Illinois he practiced civil litigation and workers' compensation defense at the Law Offices of John C. Kiely from 1977 to 1988. He also handled civil rights suits and was an arbitrator with the AAA. He moved to Los Angeles in 1988 and has focused exclusively on workers' compensation defense work at the Law Offices of William C. Heath, Johnson Rifenbark & Wylie and Spoeri & Mendoza/ Spoeri & Associates. He joined Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes in 2008 as an associate attorney.
Craig A. Kingscott, Sacramento
Craig A. Kingscott received his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in 1982 and his Juris Doctor from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1988. He has practiced workers’ compensation law exclusively since 1988. He has received multiple grants of Writs of Review of workers’ compensation cases by the Courts of Appeal, and has two published decisions. He has been a Certified Specialist in workers’ compensation since 1995.
Mr. Kingscott currently represents employers, self-insureds, and insurance carriers in all aspects of workers’ compensation defense, including Labor Code Section 132a and Serious and Willful Misconduct claims and insurance coverage issues.
Daniel Wagner received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Westmont College in 1987 and Juris Doctor from Santa Barbara College of Law in 2000. Since 2000, he has practiced as both defense and applicant counsel in workers’ compensation matters and has also been active in social security law and estate planning. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Wagner was a public relations professional in the high tech arena.
Mr. Wagner is a certified specialist in Workers' Compensation.
Dacia E. Caswell received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 1983 from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. She then received a Paralegal Certificate from University of Southern California in 1985 and in 1988 her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. She has been defending all aspects of workers compensation cases since 2004.
Before that, she defended personal injury and products liability insurance defense matters for 15 years. She has handled 15 civil jury trials to verdict as well as numerous motions including motions for summary judgment.
Mr. Pike received his undergraduate degree from CaliforniaState University at Long Beach in 1981, an MPA from the University of Southern California in 1983, and his Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law in 1986. Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation law, Mr. Pike handled municipal litigation and all aspects of insurance defense matters. Before joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP, he worked as house counsel for State Farm Insurance Companies handling workers compensation claims. Mr. Pike currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including 132a and Serious and Willful claims. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Robert H. Goldstein, Woodland Hills
Mr. Goldstein received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1963. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law in 1966. In 2010, Mr. Goldstein joined Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP as an associate attorney.
Mr. Goldstein is a frequent speaker at many educational seminars and has been a member of the Southern California Workers’ Compensation community for more than forty years. Since 1981, Mr. Goldstein has exclusively represented employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including 132a and Serious and Willful claims as well as coverage matters. Mr. Goldstein is a member of the California State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar and has also been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.
David B. Brotman is a graduate of the prestigious Brandeis University and Loyola Law School. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1981 and the New York State Bar in 1982 where he practiced general civil law with an emphasis in commercial litigation until he returned to California. He began his workers’ compensation defense practice first with The Hartford in 1986 and then was a partner at a private law firm for a number of years. David first assumed the bench at the Ventura district office in January 1998, and later became the Presiding Judge in Oxnard in 2005.
While engaged in private practice in California, he defended self-insured employers and insurance carriers, including the defense of Labor Code §132a and serious and willful misconduct claims. He will be handling all forms of workers’ compensation defense and counsel on behalf of the firm's clients.
Ms. Son-Revoredo received her undergraduate degree from La Sierra University in 2000, and her Juris Doctor from Whittier College of Law in 2003.
Ms. Son-Revoredo has been working in the workers’ compensation field since 2003 representing employers, self-insureds, and insurance carriers in all aspects of workers’ compensation. Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin, & Krikes, Ms. Son-Revoredo worked as a Staff Legal Attorney for Zurich North America.
Cristi Czuleger joined our firm in 2010. Ms. Czuleger has been practicing law since 2002, representing insurance carriers specializing in aggressively opposing lien claims. Ms. Czuleger has extensive experience with litigation of fraud cases including applicant fraud and medical provider fraud including consolidations and global provider resolution.
Ms. Czuleger is a graduate of the University of California at Riverside and Western State University College of Law.
Marc D. Borenstein, Woodland Hills
Marc Borenstein graduated from Yeshiva University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2009. Mr. Borenstein currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense. He is a member of the State Bar of California.
Jeremiah A. Heisler, Woodland Hills
Jeremiah A. Heisler graduated from San Diego State University in 2004, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from University of West Los Angeles, School of Law in 2009.
Mr. Heisler is a member of the State Bar of California, and is admitted to practice before all California State Courts and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.
Abel Calderon Jr., Woodland Hills
Abel Calderon, Jr. received his undergraduate degree from St. John’s Seminary College in Camarillo, California in Philosophy and Spanish Literature with a minor in Psychology. He received his Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California. Before joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP, Mr. Calderon was a lien representative for several years handling appearances before the WCAB.
Mr. Calderon is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Mexican American Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before all California State Courts and U.S. District Court. Mr. Calderon also does pro bono work for the KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), a non-profit organization.
Lance Peatman received his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 2002 and earned his Juris Doctor from the highly ranked George Washington University School of Law in Washington DC in 2008.
Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP, Mr. Peatman worked extensively in the field of lien practice, handling both Civil and Workers’ Compensation matters. Before being admitted to the State Bar of California, Mr. Peatman was a lien representative for many years handling appearances before the WCAB. As an attorney, Mr. Peatman has handled civil trials through to verdict, and presently defends insurance carriers and self insured entities in all aspects of workers’ compensation claims including 132a and Serious and Willful claims as well as coverage matters.
In addition to being a member of the State Bar of California, Mr. Peatman is a member of the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the San Diego County Bar Association.
Lawrence I. Kirk, Woodland Hills
Larry Kirk is a 1963 cum laude graduate of the UCLA School of Law, where he achieved the highest academic honors (Law Review, Order of the Coif). A member of The State Bar of California since 1964, Larry is a certified specialist in worker’s compensation law and a former shareholder/branch manager of a prominent statewide worker’s compensation defense firm. Further specializing in appellate work, Larry has successfully briefed and argued numerous cases before the California Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal and was most recently on the winning team in the monumental Welcher/Brodie apportionment decision, saving millions of dollars for California employers.
William R. Olson, San Luis Obispo
William R. Olson first attended San Jose State University where he majored in Geology. He then received an M.S. in Geophysical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines. While working as a geophysicist at Chevron’s corporate headquarters in San Francisco, he earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Golden Gate University.
After managing an independent oil company in New Orleans and Bakersfield, California, Mr. Olson obtained his Juris Doctor from California Pacific School of Law, and has been practicing Workers’ Compensation defense since 2000 in Northern and Central California. He joined Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes LLP in 2010, and practices all facets of Workers’ Compensation defense for employers and third party administrators.
Bill Antrim received his undergraduate degree in psychology in 1969 from Cal State University, Northridge. For the next fifteen years, he was employed with the Ventura County Public Social Services Agency as a Children’s Protective Social Worker.
Since receiving his Juris Doctor from Ventura College of Law in 1985, Mr. Antrim has practiced worker’s compensation defense law as an associate and partner at various firms in Ventura County. As an associate with Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes LLP, Mr. Antrim currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense.
Victoria K. Torigian, Woodland Hills
Ms. Torigian received a Bachelor of Science degree from Pepperdine University in 1986 and her Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University in 1993. Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP, Ms. Torigian represented physicians, hospitals and entities in civil healthcare and medical malpractice matters for 15 years.
Since 2010, Ms. Torigian has been representing employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including defense of 132a and Serious and Willful claims. She is a member of the State Bar of California, is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Central District of California and is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Kristi L. Ellison received her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University in 2004. She received her Juris Doctorate from University of San Diego Law School in 2007.
Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, Ms. Ellison defended self-insured employers and on all issues involving California workers’ compensation and concurrent Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act cases. She currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense. She is a member of the State Bar of California.
Jeffrey D. Garfinkel, Woodland Hills
Jeffrey Garfinkel graduated from Cornell University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Hofstra University, School of Law in 2009. Mr. Garfinkel currently represents employers, self-insured’s and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense matters.
Mr. Garfinkel is a member of the State Bar of California, and is admitted to practice before all California State Courts and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Mr. Garfinkel is also a member of the State Bar of New York, and is admitted to practice before all New York State Courts.
Jim Ibold completed his undergraduate work at California State University, Fullerton, obtaining a degree in Business Finance with high honors. He then attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. where he earned his Juris Doctor degree cum laude in 1991.
While primarily practicing in workers’ compensation litigation during his entire career, Mr. Ibold has also advised employers on personnel practices and policies. He has extensive experience in litigation on behalf of defendants before the WCAB through trial and appeal. Mr. Ibold is a member of the State Bar of California.
Bette A. Baker, Woodland Hills
Bette A. Baker received her undergraduate degree in English and Nursing from Simmons College and a Masters Degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester. Prior to attending Law School she taught in the Baccalaureate Nursing Program at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, Texas and was also consultant with the World Health Association based in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1982.
She began her practice of law as a litigation associate at McCutchen, Black, Verleger and Shea doing products liability defense. She left McCutchen to take an in-house position as Chief Counsel for Beverly Enterprises where she handled a variety of health-care administrative and regulatory as well as medical malpractice matters. She was most recently Director of Risk Management for the 99¢ Only Stores where she spent a considerable amount of time overseeing the company’s worker’s compensation program.
Ms. Baker is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and served as Chair of the Bioethics Committee from 2003-2005.
Douglas M. Bray, Woodland Hills
Douglas M. Bray graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, cum laude. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law where he was a member of the Law Review, a Moot Court judge and a teaching assistant in Legal Research and Writing. Mr. Bray specializes in representing and advising public and private employers in all aspects of worker’s compensation law, including defending claims of the violation of Labor Code Section 132a and of serious and willful misconduct.
He has extensive experience in handling worker’s compensation claims covered by Labor Code Section 3201.5( Carve-Out/Alternative Dispute Programs) and has served as worker’s compensation legal counsel to the Los Angeles Community College District Joint Labor- Management Committee for its Carve-Out/Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.
Mr. Bray is a frequent lecturer at public agency employment relations consortium workshops and training programs throughout the State of California. He is the worker’s compensation reviewer for the 2011 edition of the California Municipal Law Handbook published by California Continuing Education of the Bar. He is a member of the California State Bar Worker’s Compensation Section and is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Worker’s Compensation.
Mr. Bray is admitted to practice in all California State courts, the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.
Mark J. Thompson obtained his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University. He also earned a Masters in Public Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento, a Masters degree from California State University, Fresno and his Juris Doctor degree from Western State University College of Law.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the California State Bar and has practiced law for over 33 years. He began his career as a federal staff attorney for the Social Security Administration and served as a deputy district attorney with both Sacramento County and Kings County in California. Most of his legal career has been concentrated in the areas of disability law and workers compensation, focusing primarily in workers’ compensation defense.
Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin and Krikes, Mr. Thompson spent two years as a law instructor with Clovis Unified School District. He currently represents employers, self-insured and insurance carriers in all aspects of workers’ compensation defense.
Donna Lineberry received her undergraduate degree from UNC at Greensboro and in 1995 earned her certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in North Carolina. In 2004 she received her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University School of Law and her California CPA certification. As a CPA, Ms. Lineberry worked in both public and private sectors. She began as an Associate practicing accounting, audit and tax for a local accounting firm in North Carolina and advanced to a Senior Audit Associate for an international accounting firm, Coopers & Lybrand LLP, in Florida. She then transitioned to the private sector as an Accounting Supervisor for an employee-owned company in Irvine, California.
Prior to practicing Workers Compensation defense, Ms. Lineberry was a Deputy Public Defender for over five years in the County of Orange where she acquired invaluable litigation skills. Ms. Lineberry is a member of the California State Bar and the California Board of Accountancy.
Mr. Lee is an attorney whose workers’ compensation experience commenced in 1988 and extends within the field for over twenty-two years. Mr. Lee has extensive experience with pre-trial case management, discovery process, trial and appellate litigation with the goal of aggressively moving claims to closure by trial or settlement in the most efficient, cost-effective and expeditious manner possible.
Mr. Lee earned his undergraduate degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles and his Juris Doctorate from Whittier College School of Law and he is admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of California.
Jeanne R. Flaherty, Woodland Hills
Jeanne Flaherty received her undergraduate degree in economics from Indiana University. She graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1978. She subsequently received an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1993.
Ms. Flaherty has practiced labor and employment law exclusively for over 20 years. She began her legal career as a Field Attorney with the National Labor Relations Board at Region 31 in Los Angeles, California. She has served as Assistant General Counsel/Labor Counsel for Beverly Enterprises responsible for all employment-related legal matters. She has been a member of the firm of Marrs & Flaherty and counsel to Agricultural Producers, an employer association dedicated to working with members to enhance legal compliance, providing training and education in employment-related issues and representing employer members in state and federal court and before various enforcement agencies. Most recently Ms. Flaherty has represented employers as the President and Managing Attorney of her own firm, Employer’s Legal Advisor, Inc.
Ms. Flaherty’s practice encompasses advising and representing employers on all labor and employment issues, including discrimination/harassment, wage and hour, Cal-OSHA and all other federal and state statutory requirements. She also conducts investigations and provides training on employment law compliance issues. She is a frequent speaker at educational seminars.
Ms. Flaherty is a member of the State Bars of California, Nevada and Texas and is admitted to practice before the Central District and Eastern District of the U.S. District Court in California. She is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of California and the Ventura County Bar Association.
Paula A. Montgomery, San Luis Obispo
Ms. Montgomery received her undergraduate degree from California State University, Bakersfield in 1992 and her Juris Doctor from California Pacific School of Law in 1996. Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin and Krikes, Ms. Montgomery practiced workers’ compensation law in California with several other major defense firms. She has also practiced in the areas of civil law, personal injury, insurance defense, business law, and family law matters. Additionally, Ms. Montgomery has clerked extensively with the County Counsel’s office in Kern County.
Ms. Montgomery is a member of the California Bar Association and is a certified specialist in workers' compensation. She has extensive experience representing self insured’s, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense, including 132a, serious and willful claims and subrogation.
Mr. Jamie M. Jacoby received his undergraduate degree from California State Northridge University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor from the University of West Los Angeles in 1999. Thereafter he helped launch and develop Jacoby Landscape into a successful business.
Mr. Jacoby was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2003. He has since represented the interest of employers and third party administrators. As a previous business owner, Mr. Jacoby possesses a unique understanding of the insurance industry from the employer’s perspective. At GMK, he defends all aspects of workers’ compensation claims, including defense of Serious and Willful actions, 132a claims, coverage issues and subrogation.
Mr. Hake received his undergraduate degree from Pacific Union College in 1992 and graduated from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in December 1996. Mr. Hake was awarded membership into the Traynor Society for academic achievement and received the American Jurisprudence award in insurance law. In addition to representing employers and insurance carriers in workers compensation matters, Mr. Hake has represented defendants and plaintiffs in personal injury matters.
George E. Murphy, Woodland Hills
George E. Murphy received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University and received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Bridgeport, School of Law in 1986. Upon his arrival to California and admission to the California Bar in 1991, he has represented employers, self insureds and insurance companies in all aspects of Workers’Compensation defense.
Mr. Murphy is admitted to the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Council on Litigation Management, State Bar of California, Los Angeles County Bar Association.
