NAWCJ

OCTOBER 2024 MEMBER NEWS


  • RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

    The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC) is pleased to announce that Commissioner Robert A. Rapaport has been named President of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) for the 2024-2025 term. SAWCA, a leading organization that brings together workers’ compensation administrators across the southern and other regions of the United States, works to enhance the efficiency and fairness of workers’ compensation systems.

    “It’s a privilege to take on this leadership role,” said Rapaport. “I’m excited to continue advancing our workers’ compensation systems and fostering collaboration across states to benefit all involved.”

    Commissioner Rapaport was appointed as a commissioner in 2017. His dedication to the mission of providing superior services to Virginia’s injured workers and employers has earned him respect and recognition both within the Commonwealth and across the region.

    As SAWCA President, Rapaport will lead efforts to address the evolving challenges in workers’ compensation and promote best practices among its members.

    The Commission congratulates Commissioner Rapaport on this achievement and looks forward to his continued contributions to the field of workers’ compensation.
    About The Commission
    The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC), established in 1918, is an independent judicial and administrative state agency that oversees the workers’ compensation system for employees, employers, and insurers. VWC interprets and applies the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act and resolves claims through hearings and mediation.

  • Honorable Wesley G. Marshall has been elected to a three-year term as Chairman of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC), effective July 1, 2024. He succeeds Commissioner Robert A. Rapaport, whose term ended June 30, 2024.Chairman Marshall, Commissioner Rapaport, and Commissioner R. Ferrell Newman, serve as appellate-level judges at the Commission and direct its operations and staff of 292.Chairman Marshall, of Richmond, was appointed to the Commission in 2012. He also served a term as Commission Chairman from 2015-2018.From 1988 to 2012, he was an attorney in private practice, primarily representing plaintiffs in workers’ compensation, employment matters, and other civil litigation. He received his B.A. with Distinction in 1985 and his J.D. in 1988 from the University of Virginia.  Chairman Marshall serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA), the Board of Directors of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) and the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ), and was a founding member of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court. In 2015, he was inducted as a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.

 

  • The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission welcomed new Deputy Commissioner, Lauren M. Hill, during a Swearing In Ceremony on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 at the Commission’s Headquarters. She will serve as a Deputy Commissioner in the Harrisonburg region.Deputy Commissioner Hill was previously a staff attorney in the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission’s Judicial Department. She is also a certified mediator with mentor status in the Commission’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Department.Deputy Commissioner Hill graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and then attended the University of Richmond School of Law, where she graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree.  Before joining the Commission, Lauren completed internships with two circuit courts in Virginia, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia and the Virginia Employment Commission.

 

  • The Commission is led by a Senior Leadership team consisting of three Commissioners, an Executive Director and a Chief Deputy Commissioner. Commissioners are selected by the General Assembly and serve six-year terms. Honorable Wesley G. Marshall, Honorable R. Ferrell Newman and Honorable Robert A. Rapaport currently serve as Commissioners. The Commissioners elect a chairman to serve a three-year term. Commissioner Marshall currently serves as Chairman. Ms. Evelyn V. McGill is the Commission’s Executive Director and the Honorable James J. Szablewicz is the Commission’s Chief Deputy Commissioner. Leading the way in electronic data and claims filing systems, in 2023 VWC processed over 32,000 claims and issued 2,600 judicial opinions. VWC also administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, the Uninsured Employer’s Fund, and adjudicates claims under the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, VWC operates regional offices in Bristol, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Manassas and Fairfax. For more information about the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission, visit the Commission’s website. For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please email Charles Steepleton or call 877-664-2566.