By Judge Michael Alvey

Chairman, Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Board

Louisville, KY

 

The NAWCJ celebrated the induction of the 2024 Adjudicators Hall of Fame class in Orlando, Florida, on August 19, 2024.  The Criteria for selection into the Hall of Fame includes membership, or former membership (for those no longer serving as adjudicators) in the NAWCJ; Eight years of exemplary service as an adjudicator of workers’ compensation issues, trial, appellate, or any combination of the two, without requirement such period of service be uninterrupted; a record of notable service to the NAWCJ, defined as multi-faceted contributions to the ideals and goals of the organization; a record of service including educating, speaking, writing, advocating, and/or involvement with entities assisting those affected by workplace injuries.  Others who have made significant contributions to the NAWCJ, although never having served as an adjudicator, may be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame as an Honorary Member.

The NAWCJ Hall of Fame Committee includes Hon. Shannon Bruno-Bishop (LA), Hon. David Langham (FL), and Hon. Michael W. Alvey (KY). Nominations were solicited from current NAWCJ members through Survey Monkey.  After the period for nominations closed, the nominees were presented to the previously inducted Hall of Fame Members. Nominees are required to receive at least 60% of the votes submitted to be elected to the Hall of Fame.  At the induction ceremony, each inductee was awarded a plaque and a special membership pin.  Induction into the Hall of Fame is an ongoing annual event recognizing those who have provided great service to the NAWCJ.   The photographs and biographical sketches of the inductees are listed below.

 

Hon. Pamela B. Johnson

Judge Pamela Beason Johnson serves as a Workers’ Compensation Judge with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims.  In May 2014, Judge Johnson was one of eight attorneys appointed to the newly established Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. Now a twelve-member Court, Judge Johnson currently hears cases pending in Knoxville.  She is a member of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary, Tennessee Bar Association, Knoxville Bar Association, and East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women. She is a Past-President of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary, and she chairs the Lunch and Learn and New Judges’ Boot Camp committees. Judge Johnson is a regular speaker on issues of workers’ compensation practice and procedures at the national, state, and local levels. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in August 1997, and her law degree from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in May 2000.

 

 

Hon. Frank R. McKay

JUDGE MCKAY is an Appellate Judge and Director for the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation where he served as Chairman and Chief Appellate Judge for eight years. Judge McKay received the 2019 National Judge Comp Laude Award from WorkCompCentral.  He is a Past-President of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) and Co-Dean of the 2023 and 2024 Roger L. Williams National Regulators College.  He served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ).  He served on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI). He served on the Board of Directors of Kids’ Chance of Georgia.  He served on the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute’s (WCRI) Georgia Advisory Committee.  He is a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (CWCL).  He serves on Georgia’s Statewide Opioid Task Force.  Judge McKay is a frequent speaker at the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary College and many other conferences.

He came to the Board in 2013 from private practice where he was a partner in the Stewart, Melvin, and Frost law firm in Gainesville, Georgia. His practice was concentrated in workers’ compensation, and he tried and presented many cases before the Administrative Law Judges and the Appellate Division of the State Board and appeals to the Superior Courts and the Georgia Court of Appeals. He was a former Special Assistant Attorney General handling workers’ compensation claims for the State of Georgia. He was on the State Board’s Advisory Council prior to being appointed the Chairman by the Governor of Georgia in 2013 and 2017.  Judge McKay was reappointed Director and Appellate Judge by Governor Brian P. Kemp in 2021.  He obtained his law degree (J.D.) from Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, and his undergraduate degree (B.A. Economics) from Clemson University.

 

James Mcconnaughhay,

Mr. McConnaughhay concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation and administrative law. A Florida Board Certified workers’ compensation lawyer, Jim has actively practiced since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1969. His clients include national insurers as well as employers of every size. His administrative law experience primarily deals with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation and the Office of Insurance Regulation including but not limited to issues relating to rule promulgation, excess profits determinations, and insurance company regulatory activities. Jim was named one of Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite 2004 for the area of Workers’ Compensation. He is the recipient of the Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award and the WorkCompCentral 2016 Comp Laude Award with honors as an industry leader. Jim has authored “Defending Workers’ Compensation Cases” for the Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Handbook and the annually updated Florida Workers’ Compensation Desk Manual. He was the author of the 1989 Governor’s Task Force Report on Workers’ Compensation and the 1990 Oversight Board Report. Served as consultant for the 2003 systemic changes in the Florida Workers’ Compensation Law. He is an Adjunct Professor of Workers’ Compensation Law for the Florida State University College of Law and The Florida State University Juris master’s degree Program. Mr. McConnaughhay was instrumental in forming the NAWC and continues to be a great proponent of the organization.

 

Steve Rissman

Mr. Rissman is the Senior Partner of Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue, McLain & Mangan, P.A.  He limits his practice to the representation of employers and carriers or self-insureds in workers’ compensation cases.  He is on the Board of Directors and Perpetual Program Chair of the annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, the largest gathering of workers’ compensation professionals in the country.  He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America from 1995 to the present.  He has been named as one of Orlando’s Top Lawyers by Orlando, The City’s Magazine, an honor held by a very small handful of defense lawyers in Central Florida.  He has served as an adjunct professor of law at Florida State University College of Law teaching a workers’ compensation course.  In April 2011, he was elected to the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, a national organization that recognizes the expertise of workers’ compensation lawyers around the country.  Most recently, he has been named as one of the lawyers elected to the Florida Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame.  Like Mr. McConnaughhay, Mr. Rissman was instrumental in forming the NAWCJ and continues to be a great proponent of the organization.

NAWCJ HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

 

2021

Hon. Melodie Belcher, Georgia                                                   Hon. LuAnn Haley, Arizona

  Hon. John Lazzara, Florida                                                           Hon. Ellen Lorenzen, Florida

        Hon. Deneise Turner Lott, Mississippi                                         Hon. Dwight T. Lovan, Kentucky

        Hon. Bruce Moore, Kansas                                                           Hon. David Torrey, Pennsylvania

Hon. Roger L. Williams, Virginia*

2022

Hon. Michael W. Alvey, Kentucky                                                  Hon. Robert Cohen, Florida

 Hon. Robert Dietz, Florida*                                                            Hon. Jennifer Hopens, Texas

   Ms. Abbie Hudgens, Tennessee**                                                  Hon. David Langham, Florida

   Hon. James Szablewicz, Virginia                                                     Hon. Jane Williams, Kentucky

2023

Hon. Karl R. Aumann, Maryland

Hon. Shannon Bruno-Bishop, Louisiana

Kathy Shelton, Florida **

2024

Hon. Pamela B. Johnson, Tennessee

Hon. Frank McKay, Georgia

Jim Mcconnaughay, Florida**

Steve Rissman, Florida**

 

*Denotes posthumous inductee

** Denotes Honorary Inductee

If you know of an adjudicator meeting the criteria outlined above, please remember to nominate her or him.  While an adjudicator may be nominated at any time, we will follow up with a request for nominations next spring.   You may submit your nominations to any of the committee members:  Judge Michael Alvey michael.alvey@ky.gov; Judge Shannon Bruno-Bishop SBruno@lwc.la.gov; or Judge David Langham David.Langham@doah.state.fl.us.