Richard B. Goldman, Pismo Beach
Founding partner Richard B. Goldman graduated with his Bachelors of Arts from California State University Northridge, Cum Laude and received his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern School of Law with Honors in 1978. A Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law, Mr. Goldman has practiced exclusively in all aspects of defense of Workers’ Compensation claims with a vast experience in subrogation, retirement hearings and civil litigation involving the management side of employment and labor matters.
Mr. Goldman is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the California State Bar, the American Bar Association, the Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association and the Los Angeles and Ventura County Bar Associations.
Paul J. Magdalin, Woodland Hills
Founding partner Paul J. Magdalin graduated from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Mr. Magdalin earned his Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1978. He is a Certified Specialist and has defended 132a claims, coverage issues, serious and willful claims, and subrogation and appellate practice. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker at industry conventions and seminars.
Mr. Magdalin is licensed to practice in California, Florida, and Massachusetts and is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the California State Bar.
Founding partner George A. Krikes graduated from Loyola College of Law and received his Juris Doctor in 1978 after receiving his Bachelors of Arts there in 1974. Mr. Krikes garnered significant trial experience as a Deputy District Attorney in Monterey County, California before coming to the practice of Workers’ Compensation defense. His experience includes defense of all claims including subrogation, litigation, retirement hearings and defense of bad faith claims.
Mr. Krikes is a Certified Specialist and a member of the State Bar, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Tax Court, American Bar Association and Workers’ Compensation Defense Association.
John T. Moorehead received his undergraduate degree from California State University Northridge and received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in 1984. Since 1988 he has represented employers, self insureds and insurance companies in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including Section 132a and serious and willful claims as well as coverage matters.
Mr. Moorehead belongs to the American Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association and is a frequent seminar lecturer and speaker. Mr. Moorehead is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Julie A. Bienenfeld, Woodland Hills
Julie A. Bienenfeld is a certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law. Ms. Bienenfeld received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1974 and her Juris Doctor degree from Ventura College of Law in 1986. Prior to practicing law Ms. Bienenfeld was an educator in both the Oxnard and Ventura Unified School Districts.
Ms. Bienenfeld presently represents insurance carriers and self insureds in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation claims including defense of 132a, subrogation, arbitration and appellate practice.
She is a member of the California State Bar and Workers’ Compensation Section, Los Angeles and Ventura County Bar Associations.
B. Derek Straatsma, Woodland Hills
B. Derek Straatsma received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1978 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of West Los Angeles in 1981. Mr. Straatsma's practice involves the representation of both private and public entities in Workers' Compensation, public agency tort liability, labor relations, employment law matters and representation of uninsured employers in both Workers' Compensation and civil forums. He also represents employers in allegations of discrimination pursuant to Labor Code §132a, Serious and Willful Misconduct and subrogation matters. Mr. Straatsma has been a Judge Pro Tem at the Los Angeles WCAB and continues to serve as an Arbitrator for both the Superior and Municipal court.
In addition, Mr. Straatsma has significant experience in Municipal law. He presently serves as General Counsel for the El Segundo Senior Housing Corporation Board and has previously served as City Attorney of Glendora and Deputy City Attorney for the City of Manhattan Beach. Mr. Straatsma is a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section and a member of the State Bar of California. Mr. Straatsma is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Kim A. Enriquez is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. She received her Juris Doctor degree in 1992 from Ventura College of Law. She has exclusively practiced Workers’ Compensation defense law. Ms. Enriquez represents self-insureds, insurance carriers, and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation, including 132a, serious and willful claims, and coverage matters.
Mr. Yudin attended Long Island University where he received his undergraduate degree. He received his Juris Doctor from Valley University School of Law in 1977. For the past nine years, he has represented self-insured’s, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including 132a and serious and willful claims.
Prior to the practice of Workers’ Compensation law, he served as a Deputy District Attorney and as an Assistant District Attorney administering the Monterey and Salinas District Attorney Offices in Monterey County. Mr. Yudin is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Glen E. Rosenberg, Woodland Hills
Glen E. Rosenberg received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan in 1973, and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1977 from Valley University School of Law. He has practiced Workers’ Compensation defense law exclusively for over twenty years, representing self-insureds, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense, including 132a, serious and willful claims, and coverage matters. Mr. Rosenberg is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Jeffrey N. Cohen received his Juris Doctor in 1994 from Glendale College of Law. He began his career in the Workers’ Compensation defense field as a claims examiner and paralegal for five years and has since been exclusively involved in the practice of Workers’ Compensation defense law.
Mr. Cohen 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. Cohen is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Ms. Riviera-Myers received her undergraduate degree from the University of California Davis and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of LaVerne College of Law in 1992. Prior to commencing the practice of law Ms. Riviera-Myers worked as a law clerk and hearing representative in the Workers’ Compensation field.
Ms. Riviera-Myers currently represents self insureds, insurance carriers and employers in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation defense including 132a, and serious and willful claims. Ms. Riviera-Myers is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Mr. Turchin received his undergraduate degree from Vassar College in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1995. Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation law, Mr. Turchin had handled civil litigation and insurance defense matters. Mr. Turchin began his career in the Workers’ Compensation defense field as a claims examiner and paralegal. Mr. Turchin is a member of the State Bar of California. Mr. Turchin is a certified specialist in workers' compensation.
Rudy H. Lopez received his undergraduate degree from the University of California Berkeley in 1992, and his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1996. Mr. Lopez is admitted to practice in all of the courts in the State of California, as well as the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Lopez is also a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.
Prior to joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, LLP, Mr. Lopez was a trial attorney handling subrogation matters, and defending State Workers’ Compensation, as well as Federal Longshore and Harborworkers’ Compensation Act claims. Mr. Lopez’ trial experience includes several jury trials, including the case of Fremont Compensation Ins. Group. v. United Technologies, 17 Trials Digest 5th 11 (2002) where he recovered $82,705.00 for the workers’ compensation carrier.
In addition to his trial work, Mr. Lopez is a previous presenter for the Council on Education in Management, and frequently speaks for various agencies and performs in-house seminars. He is also an instructor with the Insurance Educational Association, having taught various classes in Workers’ Compensation Claims. He presently continues to handle subrogation matters, as well as State and Longshore claims from our San Diego office. He 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. 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.
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.
Kathleen L. Wilson, Pismo Beach
Ms. Wilson attended San Diego State University, and received her Juris Doctor Degree from Santa Barbara College of Law in 1980. She has worked exclusively in the practice of Workers’ Compensation Law since 1981. Before joining Goldman, Magdalin & Krikes, Ms. Wilson was a Partner in a workers’ compensation law firm with offices in San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara and Pasadena representing employers, self-insured’s and insurance carriers in all aspects of workers’ compensation defense, including Labor Code Section 132a claims, Serious and Willful Misconduct claims, and coverage issues.
Ms. Wilson 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.
Ms. Wilson is domiciled in our Pismo Beach office, and can be reached at kwilson@gmklaw.com or by calling (805) 773-7141.
