Eleen Y. Vallejo, Thousand Oaks
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.
Judith Anne Pirkle, Pismo Beach
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).
Leonard R. Matylewicz, Thousand Oaks
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.
John B. Rogers, North Hollywood
Mr. Rogers received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law, San Diego in 1988. Mr. Rogers currently represents employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense, including 132a and Serious and Willful claims.
Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation law, Mr. Rogers handled various civil litigation matters, including bankruptcy and creditors rights as well as various labor relations and employment law matters.
Deborah E. Winer, North Hollywood
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 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.
Rolla Norton received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1975. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1978. From 1978 to 1987 Mr. Norton worked as corporate counsel managing collective bargaining, contract negotiations, insurance coverage, employee benefits, worker's compensation programs and human resources. Since 1987, Mr. Norton has worked exclusively in the practice of workers' compensation law. Before joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP in 2005, Mr. Norton was the managing partner of a worker's compensation law firm in Santa Barbara representing employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers in all aspects of workers' compensation defense including Labor Code Section 132a claims, Serious and Willful Misconduct claims, and coverage issues.
Mr. Norton is a member of the State Bar of California, the Santa Barbara County Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the United States Federal Courts. Mr. Norton is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Russell E. Shuben, Thousand Oaks
Russell E. Shuben received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Laverne College of Law in 1991. Prior to commencing the practice of law Mr. Shuben worked as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Examiner and Hearing Representative.
Mr. Shuben represents self-insureds, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation including 132 (a), Serious and Willful claims, and coverage issues.
Mr. Shuben is a member of the State Bar of California.
Mr. Watchman received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University in 1981 and his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1985, earning an Exceptional Achievement Award in Pre Trial Lawyering Skills. Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation law, Mr. Watchman specialized in the area of employment and business litigation, representing clients in all aspects of State and Federal Court litigation including trial and appeal.
Since joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes in 2003, Mr. Watchman has represented insurers and uninsured employers in the defense of Workers’ Compensation claims including 132a, serious and willful, and coverage issues. He also represents insurers in State Court subrogation litigation. Mr. Watchman is a member of the State Bar of California, State Bar of Arizona, and Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Watchman is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Jeffrey S. Swartz, Thousand Oaks
Jeff Swartz graduated from the University of Oregon in 1984 with a degree in business administration. He then attended Loyola Law School, earning a Juris Doctor in 1989.
Mr. Swartz has practiced Workers Compensation since 1991, and the State Bar of California has Certified him as a Specialist in the field.
Mr. Swartz frequently lectures at seminars and conventions. He has experience in Medicare Set Aside Trusts, Third Party Claims, Subrogation Rights, and claims for discrimination under Labor Code Section 132 (a).
Brian R. Horan, North Hollywood
Mr. Horan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 from University of California, Los Angeles, and received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1978 from Southwestern University School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Horan received the American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Law in 1976 and was in the Law Review honors program for two years.
Mr. Horan has practiced Workers’ Compensation law exclusively since 1979, is a member of the California State Bar and became a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation in 1984.
Mr. Horan has practiced in this field as staff counsel for the State Fund, house counsel for an insurance carrier, but primarily has practiced in large private firms that are proud to serve major insurance carriers, self-insured employers, educational and municipal entities, in all areas of California business. Mr. Horan also presents seminars to employers and the insurance claims community to help educate in an ever-challenging industry.
Ms. Hwang is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree at Western State University, College of Law. Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin and Krikes, Ms. Hwang practiced workers’ compensation and civil litigation as staff counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
Ms. Hwang is a member of the California State Bar and the American Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in all California State Courts.
Tam Pham received her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California in 1992 and her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1996. Ms. Pham started her career in the Workers’ Compensation field representing injured workers.
Ms. Pham currently represents insurance carriers, self-insureds and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense matters.
Anousheh Sabouri, Thousand Oaks
Anousheh Sabouri received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge in 2001, and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law in 2006.
Ms. Sabouri has been working in the workers’ compensation field since 1994. Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes in 2001, she worked in an applicant’s attorney’s firm handling not only workers’ compensation cases, but plaintiff’s civil litigation as well. Upon joining GMK, she worked directly with founding partner Richard Goldman until his move to Pismo Beach in 2005, at which time she began working with Derek Straatsma primarily in subrogation matters. Ms. Sabouri has been exposed to all aspects of workers’ compensation defense, including Labor Code § 132a claims and Serious and Willful Misconduct claims.
Ms. Sabouri is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the California Young Lawyers Association. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.
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.
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, North Hollywood
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.
Ryan L. Frazier graduated from Pacific Union College in Angwin (a small town in the Napa Valley), where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 2000.
Mr. Frazier presently represents self insured entities, insurance carriers and third party administrators in all aspects of the workers’ compensation system.
Mr. Frazier also handles complaints in intervention and subrogation in Civil Superior Court in order to obtain reimbursement for amounts expended by his clients for worker’s compensation claims which resulted from the actions of a third party.
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.
Linda M. Subias, North Hollywood
Linda M. Subias received her undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1988, and her Juris Doctor degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law (“Boalt”) in 1991. Ms. Subias began her law career in private practice, representing major corporations in a wide variety of industries and types of business litigation. She then spent the next 12 years as in-house employment and immigration counsel, first for Bugle Boy Industries, and then for Farmers Group, Inc.
Ms. Subias specializes in advising companies of all sizes with respect to day-to-day employment advice, creation of employee policies and handbooks, representation and defense in employment disputes, and immigration law. She is licensed to practice law in state and federal court, and has extensive experience representing clients in administrative settings.
Arthur T. Kuwamoto is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of California at Davis from which he received his Juris Doctor degree.
He was admitted to the California Bar in 1978 and concentrated in workers' compensation defense prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP.
Art is a member of the Fresno Industrial Claims Association, the Fresno County Bar Association, the California Bar Association, and the California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys Association.
Kathleen L. Wilson, Pismo Beach
Kathleen L. Wilson attended San Diego State University, and received her Juris Doctor Degree from Santa Barbara College of Law in 1980. Ms. Wilson has been representing employers, self-insureds and insurance companies in all aspects of workers' compensation defense since 1981.
Ms. Wilson belongs to the American Bar Association, California State Bar, and San Luis Obispo County Bar Association.
Daniel C. Wagner, Santa Barbara
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.
