Stephen P. Moschetta, President, and former Secretary, is a partner in The Moschetta Law Firm, P.C. based in Washington, Pennsylvania. Mr. Moschetta has been a member of the DOL-JBA since 2010 and has served on the Board of Directors since 2013. Mr. Moschetta earned his undergraduate degree from Washington & Jefferson College and graduated cum laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1998, where he served as an editor of the Law Review, and President of the elder law clinic. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, American Association for Justice, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Bar Associations, and is a Past President of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania. mr. Moschetta is a member of the Maritime Law Association of America and the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group. He is admitted to practice in all state and Federal Courts in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third and Fourth Circuits. Mr. Moschetta has a national Longshore and Defense Base Act practice. He has authored articles on admiralty and maritime law, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, in particular. He has given presentations for continuing legal education on various subjects concerning automobile insurance law, civil procedure, trial practice/advocacy, professional responsibility, the Jones Act/General Maritime Law and the Longshore Act. In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Moschetta serves on the Board of rustees of Landmark College, a liberal arts institution of higher education in Vermont, serving students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders.
Mick Thomas, President Elect, received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Buffalo in 1987, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston in 1993. Until 1997, he represented plaintiffs in personal injury claims, but has since defended employers and insurance carriers in claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, Defense Base Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Non-Appropriated Funds Instrumentalities Act, War Hazards Compensation Act, California Workers’ Compensation Act and Jones Act. Mr. Thomas has been admitted to practice before all courts in the State of California, several Federal District Courts nationally, the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 9th Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Thomas is a contributing author for The Longshore Textbook and the Defense Base Act Handbook, has written a variety of articles, and lectured on numerous occasions on topics related to his practice.
Brian Karsen, Esquire, Treasurer, is a partner in Barnett, Lerner, Karsen & Frankel, P.A., having joined the firm in 2010. Mr. Karsen attended the University of Florida where he earned his Bachelors degree in Political Science, a Juris Doctor and a Masters degree in Business Administration. He began practicing in 1998and has significant litigation experience in handling both civil and criminal matters, having served as lead counsel in numerous jury and non-jury trials and evidentiary hearings. Mr. Karsen has tried cases before County and Circuit Court Judges and Judges of Compensation Claims throughout the State of Florida and before Federal Administrative Law Judges across the Untied States.
Mr. Karsen began his career with the Public Defender’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Florida. In that capacity he represented hundreds of indigent clients in criminal matters, including first degree felony cases punishable by up to life in prison. While serving in the Public Defender’s Office, Mr. Karsen was twice recognized for outstanding performance at trial. Additionally, during this time Mr. Karsen represented a client featured on the national television program “America’s Most Wanted” and the trial was featured on an episode which aired in 2001.
Beginning in 2001, Mr. Karsen began representing employers and insurance carriers in defending workers’ compensation claims throughout the South Florida region. In 2004 his practice shifted to dedicated counsel for large, self-insured companies in defending workers’ compensation claims throughout the State of Florida. In this capacity he dealt directly with corporate risk managers, adjusters and case managers in directing and coordinating the defending of claims across all aspect of the litigation process.
Mr. Karsen sits on the Board of Directors and is the Chief Legal Officer for Patriot Placements, a non-profit organization serving military veterans by working with business to provide job placement and economic independence to aid in the transition from military service to civilian employment. Mr. Karsen has an extensive speaking resume, providing educational lectures on workers’ compensation, Defense Base Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and other maritime claims. He also currently serves on the Planning Committee for the Florida Workers’ Compensation Institute’s Education Conference for the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation and Defense Base Act Breakout.
Tally R.P. Perez, Secretary, is an attorney in the Houston law firm of Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier P.L.L.C. where she practices in the areas of employer liability defense, the defense of claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (and its extensions), and the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act. Ms. Perez has been named a “Rising Star” in the field of workers’ compensation by Super Lawyers magazine. Ms. Perez earned her B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and Women in Law.
Ralph R. Lorberbaum, is a partner in Zipperer, Lorberbaum & Beauvais in Savannah, Georgia where he specializes in state and federal workers’ compensation cases representing the injured worker. Ralph is a graduate of the University of Georgia (B.B.A. 1970) and Emory University School of Law (J.D. 1973). He served on the State of Georgia Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board and presently serves on the State of Georgia Workers’ Compensation Rules and Mediation Committee. He is a member of the American Board of Advocates, The Workplace Injury Litigation Group and has been certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a member of the American College of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys and has been selected as a Top Lawyer in the State of Georgia in the area of workers’ compensation for years. He is a writer/editor of The Longshore Textbook and he is a frequent lecturer on topics involving state and federal workers’ compensation.
Keith L. Flicker, is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Law (J.D. 1978) and received a degree in Economics from New York University, where he graduated summa cum laude and was the recipient of the NYU Founder’s Day Award (B.A. 1974). He is a member of the New York and New Jersey bars, admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of those jurisdictions, as well as before the United States Courts of Appeal for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 9th Circuits, the Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. In 1985 he founded the firm Flicker, Garelick & Associates practicing civil, commercial and administrative litigation and trial work focusing on the insurance, marine and intermodal transportation industries with a concentration on the defense of carriers and employers with exposures under the Defense Base Act and related statutes. Keith has tried hundreds of cases before the administrative bodies and courts that are charged with the judicial resolution of DBA and longshore claims. He has also tried dozens of maritime and commercial cases, jury and non-jury alike, before federal and state courts throughout the country. He regularly speaks at and presents seminars to employers, adjusters, attorneys, underwriters and managers involved in DBA and War Hazard Compensation Act matters.
Monica Markovich, Past President 2014, practices law as a Shareholder and Director of Brown Sims, P.C. in its Houston, Texas location. Brown Sims, P.C. was established in 1968 as an admiralty firm with the purpose of serving its clients in the Gulf Coast area and abroad. Since that time, the firm’s practice has expanded to include a broad range of legal services throughout the general scope of civil litigation. Ms. Markovich’s current practice focuses on the defense of claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (and its extensions including the Defense Base Act) and the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, “non-subscriber” litigation, and other death and personal injury defense. Ms. Markovich is a member of the State Bar of Texas, and has been Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2004. Ms. Markovich serves on the Board of Directors and as a President of the DOL-Joint Bar Association, Inc. She has been serving on the Benefits Review Board Service Advisory Board since 2008. Ms. Markovich has lectured on legal subjects including at seminars presented by The University of Texas, Louisiana State University, Loyola Law School, URIMA, The State Bar of Texas and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Markovich received her Bachelor of Arts )1990) and Doctor of Jurisprudence (1993) from the University of Texas in Austin.
David C. Barnett, Esquire, Past President 2011, founded the DOL-Joint Bar Association, Inc. in 2009 and has served as President during 2010-2011. Mr. Barnett is the founding and managing partner in Barnett & Lerner, Karsen & Frankel, P.A. The firm primarily represents injured workers and has offices in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Washington, D.C. Mr. Barnett attended the University of Maryland where he earned two Bachelor degrees. Mr. Barnett attended Nova Southeastern Law School where he obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1990. He is admitted to practice in all courts within the State of Florida and is admitted to the Federal Bar for the Southern District and Middle District of Florida. He is also admitted to practice before the 2nd and 11th Circuit Courts of Appeal. Mr. Barnett litigates maritime injury and longshore cases nationally and he also handles his own appeals.
Mr. Barnett is a member of the Workers Injury Law Group and previously served as Chairman of the longshore section in 2009. He was previously elected by the Plaintiff Bar in Florida to serve on the Board of Directors for Florida Workers Advocates. Mr. Barnett frequently lectures and has authored numerous Law Review articles on workers’ rights throughout the United States. In 2008 he was a contributing author in Defense Base Act and War Hazards Compensation Handbook, 2008 Edition, LexisNexis. Mr. Barnett wrote part of the State of Florida Board Certification Course and Examination for Insurance Adjusters. Mr. Barnett was a member of the Dade County Bar Association and he is currently a member of the Broward County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and Florida Admiralty Lawyer’s Association.
In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Barnett previously served on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals of South Florida and he currently serves as Chairman of the Board for The Victory Center, a non-profit school exclusively involved in education children with autism and related disabilities.
Alan G. Brackett, Past President 2012, is a founding member of Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett, LLC in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1982 and a J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1984. He practices in the fields of admiralty and maritime law, and federal workers’ compensation law. He is admitted to practice before all Louisiana State and Federal Courts, the Fifth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He has chaired the Annual Longshore Conference for Loyola University in 1998 and is a contributing author to The Longshore Textbook. He is a member of the American, Louisiana and New Orleans Bar Associations, the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, the Defense Research Institute, and the Louisiana and New Orleans Associations of Defense Counsel.
He has been named to Best Lawyers in America since 2016 and a Louisiana SuperLawyer since 2008. He is a fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and Louisiana Bar Foundation, for which he serves on the Board of Directors.
Mr. Brackett is involved numerous civic, cultural, and professional organizations. He is a past International President of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and served on the Board of Directors of the North American Inter-Fraternity Conference. He also serves on the board of the Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation. He is a past chairman of the board of trustees of St. Martin’s Episcopal School, served on the executive committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, and as the presiding judge of the Ecclesiastical court for the Diocese. he is currently the Junior Warden of Christ Church Cathedral.
Amie C. Peters, Past President 2013, is the founding member of Blue Water Legal PLLC in Edmonds, Washington. Amie represents injured workers under the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and its extensions, and Washington State’s Industrial Insurance Act. She is admitted to practice in all Washington State courts, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. Amie is an active member of the Washington State Bar, serving in leadership positions with organizations such as Washington State Association for Justice and Workers’ Injury Law and Advocacy Group.
Paul M. Doolittle graduated from the Oklahoma City University College of Law in 1987, where he served as an editor on the Law Review. Paul was admitted to practice law in Oklahoma in 1987, and in Florida in 1989; he is also admitted to practice in the Federal Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. Paul serves on the Board of Directors of Florida Workers’ Advocates, is a Past Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Justice Association (f/k/a the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers), is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubble, and practices workers’ compensation and personal injury litigation in Jacksonville, Florida.
In the past decade, Paul has mediated well over a thousand cases arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and its extensions, specifically, the Defense Base Act. He currently mediates such disputes several times a week throughout the United States. Paul also mediates claims governed by the Florida Workers’ Compensation Act. As such, Paul enjoys a good reputation with both the claimant and defense bar.
Paul frequently lectures on Longshore and Defense Base Act matters, and his article, Death Benefits Under the Longshore and Defense Base Acts, has been published in the Fall 2012 edition of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal, Vol. II, No. 1. Paul is well respected by his peers for his tireless efforts, through lobbying in Tallahassee, to protect and defend the rights of Florida’s injured workers. Paul was appointed by the President of the Florida Br to the Workers’ Compensation Rules Advisory Committee for the term of July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2015.
Randy Harris is Regional Director of Claims for Northern California and the Pacific Northwest Areas for Ports America, which is the largest stevedore company in the United States. Mr. Harris is also a member of the Oregon and Washington State Bars. While practicing law, he represented employers & carriers in well over three hundred trials under the Longshore Act. He has worked with the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, either as a lawyer or a claims manager, for over 20 years. Currently he is responsible for handling claims under the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Actin including managing medical, legal, and Department of Labor issues from initial filing to settlement. Mr. Harris has spoken at multiple Longshore Conferences throughout the United States.
Mr. Harris graduated from Stanford University. He received his J.D. from Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College and a Masters in Industrial & Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Stephen Embry is a 1971 Graduate of American University, School of International Service and received his Juris Doctor degree from The University of Connecticut School of Law in 1975. He practices in Groton, Connecticut with the law firm of Embry and Neusner, where he focuses on personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employee rights litigation. He is past chairman of the American Trial Lawyers Association Workers Compensation Section, a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, and a Past President and board member of the Work Place Law and Advocacy Group. Mr. Embry is a co-author of the Longshore Textbook and is a member of the advisory board of the Benefits Review Board Service Longshore Reporter. Mr. Embry is the recipient of the Irving Selikoff Award presented by ConnectiCOSH in recognition for long-term efforts to improve the health and safety of workers. Mr. Embry is a frequent lecturer for universities and legal organizations both in the U.S. and internationally.
Lewis S. Fleishman is a sole practitioner of the law firm Lewis S. Fleishman, PLLC. For the past twenty years he has concentrated on Maritime Law including the Defense Base Act, and the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Prior to commencing practice in Texas, Mr. Fleishman was employed as an Assistant Attorney General by the State of New Mexico. He prosecuted cases under the Uniform
Licensing Act. Additionally, Mr. Fleishman has extensive criminal appellate and state post-conviction experience. Mr. Fleishman graduated from Rutgers School of Law, Camden. He conducted his
undergraduate work at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he graduated cum laude. Mr. Fleishman is admitted to practice law in Texas, New Mexico (inactive), California (inactive), the Navajo
Nation (inactive), and numerous federal courts. Mr. Fleishman clerked for the Honorable John Devine, U.S. Magistrate, Trenton, New Jersey.
When not concentrating on his law practice, Mr. Fleishman spends time lecturing on various aspects of maritime law and is an active participant in the Annual Longshore Conference in New Orleans. He is also a member of WILG, the Workers Injury Law & Advocacy Group.
Roger A. Levy is of counsel to the firm of Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP, in San Francisco, California, of which he was a founding partner. His practice is concentrated on the defense of workers’ compensation matters before both state and federal administrative agencies. His primary area of specialization is the defense of cases brought under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, including its extensions, the Defense Base Act, the Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act, as well as related maritime civil cases such as those brought under the Jones Act and Suits in Admiralty Act. He has worked as a mediator in cases related to these areas of practices since 2004.
John L. Schouest has been practicing law for nearly 25 years as a trial attorney, handling both jury and bench trials in State and Federal Courts. He is the partner in charge of our Houston, Texas office of Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin, Fichtel, Wander, Bamdas, Askalyo & Dunbrack, P.A. Selected annually as one of the Best Lawyers in America, John’s practice is diverse with a special emphasis on advising clients and defending claims arising from injuries/deaths, or property losses, in energy, transportation, or military support enterprises. He is frequently involved in situations requiring experience in Maritime and Admiralty Law, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Defense Base Act, onshore and offshore drilling and production operations, and premises liability. He has represented Jones Act employers, ship owners, charterers, and energy contractors in “blue water,” “brown water,” and OCSLA claims, including Limitation of Liability actions and large scale maritime disasters involving OPA and U.S. Coast Guard Joint Command operations. John was the trial lawyer on the case involving the largest sub sea release of oil in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from a vessel allision. With the international reach of many of Houston’s companies, John is often asked to defend personal injury and property damage claims arising in foreign jurisdictions, along with claims involving international workers’ compensation coverage.
John is a frequent speaker at local and national trade and educational seminars, having spoken to risk managers, claims examiners, attorneys, and judges on various aspects of law, primarily involving maritime, transportation or LHWCA/DBA issues. A native of south Louisiana, John graduated from LSU in 1985 with a B.S. in Zoology/Pre-Medicine. In 1988 he graduated law school from LSU, where he was a member of the Chancellor’s List. That same year he moved to Houston. John is licensed to practice law in Texas and Louisiana.
Jonathan Beiser is the Principal of Beiser Law Firm. Mr. Beiser attended the University of Maryland, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Business and Management, and attended the University of Baltimore, where he received his Juris Doctor degree. He is licensed in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia, where he has tried thousands of cases before juries, judges and workers’ compensation commissioners. He has built a successful reputation over the last 26 years for representing the rights of those injured in workplace accidents in Maryland, on docks nationally, and as defense contractors overseas. Mr. Beiser advises clients and provides insights about workers’ compensation which has earned him industry awards and accolades, such as an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell and being voted a Maryland and District of Columbia Super Lawyer Since 2007. In addition, Mr. Beiser is frequently asked by organizations such as Labor Unions, Lawyers Associations and vocational rehabilitation groups to speak at their events concerning workers’ rights as they relate to workers’ compensation. Mr. Beiser is a Board Member of the Workers’ Injury law and Advocacy Group, Department of Labor Joint Bar Association and Kid’s Chance of Maryland.
Patrick J. Babin, is a member attorney with Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett. Mr. Babin attended Tulane University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree majoring in Political Economy & Philosophy and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law in 2008. Mr. Babin’s areas of practice include Workers’ Compensation, Maritime Liability and defense and representation of employers and insurance carriers under Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, Section 905 (b), Defense Base Act, War Hazards Compensation Act, Jones Act, Louisiana State Workers’ Compensation claims and hearing loss matters.
Mr. Babin is a Member of the New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, RIMS, the Risk Management Society, which is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 3,500 corporate, industrial, service, nonprofit, charitable and government entities throughout the world dedicated to educating, engaging and advocating for the global risk community. He is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.