Please direct any inquires about SGVB to:
Michelle R. Devine
mdevine@sgvblaw.com
Director of Client Relations
18881 Von Karman Avenue
Suite 250
Irvine, CA 92612
Office (949) 252-1300
Fax (949) 252-1399
*Certified by the “State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Workers’ Compensation Law”
EDUCATION
DANIEL F. VALENZUELA received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Santa Clara in 1977 and his Juris Doctor (Cum laude) from Arizona State University College of Law in 1980. He was admitted to practice in Arizona in 1980 and in California in 1982.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Valenzuela’s experience includes instruction in legal education as well as an attorney for the U. S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. where he represented the Department in hearings and appeals involving Workers’ Compensation claims under the Black Lung Benefits Act. He joined Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 1982 and continued his Workers’ Compensation defense practice handling claims filed pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Laws of California and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. He was certified as a specialist in Workers’ Compensation law in May of 1994. He is currently the firm’s President and Managing Partner of the San Pedro office.
EDUCATION
HARVEY S. BROWN received his Bachelor’s Degree from California State University of Northridge in 1969, and obtained his law degree from San Fernando Valley College of Law in 1979. Mr. Brown has been working as a Workers’ Compensation specialist after passing the exam with the State Bar of California in 1993.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Brown was admitted to practice in 1979, and worked as an attorney at the State Compensation Insurance Fund from approximately 1979 to 1991. Until 1986, Mr. Brown was an associate attorney, handling complex legal matters including defense, 132(a) and S&W’s. During that time, Mr. Brown also trained in and handled the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation claims for the State Compensation Insurance Fund.
In 1986, Mr. Brown was appointed Managing Partner of the Cerritos office of State Compensation Insurance Fund. In that capacity, he managed 15 attorneys as well as a support staff of 20. During that period, Mr. Brown dealt with various claims departments, providing direction, control and training. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Brown also provided legal training, conducted seminars, and created teaching materials for the seminars for 300 attorneys with State Compensation Insurance Fund. During that time Mr. Brown also advised school districts and self-insured employers such as the State of California which would often involve meetings with state agencies and state personnel.
In 1991, Mr. Brown became an associate with Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown and in 1994; he became a partner with the firm. Since 1998, Mr. Brown has been a member of the Board of Directors of the firm and currently serves as the managing partner of the Irvine, Glendale, San Diego and Sacramento offices.
Prior to opening the Orange County office, Mr. Brown was in charge of training all new attorneys with the firm. This included integrating them into the Workers’ Compensation environment, giving them complete training as well as monitoring their daily activities. As a managing partner, Mr. Brown handles all complex litigation including 132(a) ‘s and S&W’s.
Mr. Brown has been the Secretary, Vice President and President of the Long Beach Workers’ Compensation section of the Long Beach Bar Association. In that regard, he has also conducted seminars in the past several years on Workers’ Compensation issues for the Long Beach Bar Association, together with Mr. Allan Bass, the former presiding judge from Santa Ana.Mr. Brown has also prepared a newsletter for the past several years, providing clients with the latest updates, and giving them legal and advisory opinions on the latest Workers’ Compensation laws. Mr. Brown also performs Workers’ Compensation seminars for his clients, and provides legal advice by telephone and/or e-mail on cases that he may not be representing clients on.
EDUCATION
NANCY J. BROWN received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, in 1981. She received her Juris Doctor in 1991 from Pacific Coast University College of Law in Long Beach, California. She was admitted to practice in 1992 and became a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation in September 1999.BACKGROUND
From 1981 to 1992 she worked exclusively in the medical field. This included consultation on a direct basis with physicians of various medical specialists including Orthopedic, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Radiology. She has an extensive background and working knowledge of how the various medical specialties interact with Workers’ Compensation cases.
Ms. Brown is a partner at Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown. She specializes in Workers’ Compensation defense, and is a former President of the Long Beach Bar Association. Ms. Brown has been Chairperson of the Orange County State Bar Association/Workers’ Compensation section and has served as a Judge Pro-tem. She was also appointed to the State Bar’s Workers’ Compensation Law Advisory Commission in 2005, serving as Vice-Chairperson from 2007-2008, and beginning September of 2008, Ms. Brown will serve as the Chairperson until 2009. Ms. Brown currently works out of the Irvine office.
PUBLICATIONS
WCAB decision published: Irvin v. WCAB/City of Los Angeles, 62 CCC 1297 (1997). Additional decisions can be sent to your attention per your request for any attorney.
EDUCATION
JAMES A. MORRISON received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Business Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1979. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Dowling College in New York in 1981. Mr. Morrison received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1986. He was admitted to practice in the State of California in 1987.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Morrison has been a Workers’ Compensation attorney for Wausau Insurance, Kemper Insurance, and TIG Insurance Company. He joined the San Pedro office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in February of 1999 solely practicing Workers’ Compensation Defense.
EDUCATION
GINA HARTSTON received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, in June 1993. She received her Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law in 1997. She was admitted to practice in 1998.
BACKGROUND
Prior to practicing Workers’ Compensation defense, Mrs. Hartston joined a firm in their environmental department. Mrs. Hartston joined the San Pedro office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 2000. She handles our accounts with Sodexho, Blockbuster, Jacuzzi Whirlpool, and is the designated attorney for our cases with Foamex International.
EDUCATION
MICHAEL D. DORAN obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 from San Diego State University, where he majored in biology with emphasis in marine science. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1979 from California Western School of Law in San Diego and was admitted to the California bar that year.BACKGROUND
From 1980 to 1984 Mr. Doran worked for firms in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor area, handling personal injury and asbestos litigation, California and L&H Workers’ Compensation, as well as criminal, family law, and Jones Act litigation. From 1984 through 1986, he was with house counsel for Western Employers Insurance Company, handling civil tort litigation defense, Workers’ Compensation subrogation, and Workers’ Compensation defense.From 1986 to 2002, Mr. Doran specialized in tort and civil litigation defense. He has been trial counsel in more than 20 civil jury trials in California and U.S. District Courts, predominantly for the defense, in addition to dozens of binding and non-binding arbitrations. He has also successfully briefed and argued matters before the California Court of Appeal, and United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeal.
He joined Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 2002, where he has resumed practice under the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and its extensions. He has also resumed an active practice in civil Subrogation. Additionally, Mr. Doran handles defense of employers for claims of Serious & Willful Misconduct and 132a under the California Labor code, as well as Maritime Law and civil tort litigation matters.
Mr. Doran has developed and continues to present seminars in the field of third party Workers’ Compensation subrogation. He for many years acted as a Judge Pro Tem and arbitrator with the Los Angeles County Superior Courts in Torrance and San Pedro, and has participated as a mediator in the Southwest District of the Superior Court. He has been an active member of the South Bay Bar Association for more than 20 years, and has served on its board of directors. He is past President of Catalina Conservancy Divers, a support group of the Catalina Island Conservancy, and continues to volunteer as a research diver for the Conservancy.
EDUCATION
CINDY GUTIERREZ received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law & Society, and Psychology & Social Behavior from the University of California Irvine. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from California Western School of Law in 2000 and was admitted to practice law in the State of California in May, 2001.
BACKGROUND
Since her admission to the bar, Ms. Gutierrez has worked in San Diego County in the areas of personal injury and government tort liability and Los Angeles County in the areas of federal Longshore & Harbor Workers Act and California State Workers’ Compensation.
Ms. Gutierrez joined the San Pedro office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in November of 2002.
EDUCATION
MONIQUE A. GIUFFRE received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge in 1996. She received her Juris Doctor in December 2001 from Whittier College School of Law, and was admitted to practice law in June 2002.
BACKGROUND
Prior to law school, Monique worked in various capacities at Children of the Night, a runaway shelter in the Los Angeles area. She was head teacher at Children of the Night’s on grounds school, and taught History and English to the teen residents. During law school, Monique participated in externships at the Los Angeles Dependency Court and at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.
Monique joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in April 2003. She is now working out of the Glendale office.
EDUCATION
KIMBERLY R. OGATA received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Science from Colorado State University in 1999. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from California Western School of Law in 2002 and was admitted to the State Bar of California that same year.
BACKGROUND
Born and raised in Kona, Hawaii, Ms. Ogata was a member of the Hawaii Clubs throughout her attendance at Colorado State University and during law school. She served as a Small Claims Clerk Advisor at the Superior Court in South Bay, San Diego County. Ms. Ogata also participated in a non-profit guardianship clinic in assisting walk in clients. Prior to joining the Irvine office, Ms. Ogata interned for a civil law firm in the intellectual property department. She joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in August of 2003 practicing Workers’ Compensation Law, defending employers, claims administrators, and insurance carriers with quality legal services for over six years.
EDUCATION
ERIN E. WILLEY received her Bachelor of Science degree in 2001 from Salisbury State University, where she double majored in Business Administration/Finance and Accounting. She received her Juris Doctor in 2004 from the California Western School of Law in San Diego where she was a recipient of the Dean’s Honors List. She was admitted to the California bar that same year.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Willey joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 2005, specializing in Workers’ Compensation Defense. She has been nominated by an insurance company as a candidate for their "Attorney of the Year" award and is known for her quick resolution to files as well as her intuition to resolve/address legal disputes in an efficient manner. Since her joining this firm, she has traveled throughout the state of California from San Diego to Eureka at the request of numerous clients. Erin is currently lead attorney in the firm’s Sacramento office and handles workers’ compensation defense throughout Northern California.
EDUCATION
MORTON A. KAMZAN obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Union College in New York. He then attended Cornell University Medical College in New York to obtain his M.D. Mr. Kamzan went on to San Fernando Valley College of Law to obtain his Juris Doctor and was admitted to practice in California in 1984. While he was in Medical School, Mr. Kamzan interned with Harlem Hospital in New York and completed Medical Residency for 2 years with Montefiore Hospital in New York and Kaiser Foundation Hospital in California.
BACKGROUND
Since graduating, Mr. Kamzan has been employed with Southern California Permanente Medical Group, held a Private Practice in Medicine, served as a Qualified Medical Examiner (QME) for both applicant and defense, and has practiced law for the last twelve years specifically in the area of Medical Malpractice. Due to Mr. Kamzan’s extensive experience and expertise in both the legal and medical fields, he was brought on by Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2005.
EDUCATION
DANIEL T. CARREON obtained his Juris Doctor from the Western State University in 1976 and was admitted to the California Bar that same year. Mr. Carreon also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Carreon has been a practicing attorney for more than 29 years. He served his first eleven years in personal injury claims as a plaintiff attorney. Mr. Carreon served for more than nine years as a Senior Litigation Attorney for Liberty Mutual Insurance. Mr. Carreon has tried approximately twenty cases through jury verdict. Since 1991, Mr. Carreon has been closely involved in Special Investigation Unit (SIU) cases with several carriers, involving suspected fraudulent claims. Mr. Carreon then went on to serve as an Associate Attorney handling Workers’ Compensation and Subrogation cases for a defense firm. Mr. Carreon enjoys being the father of his eight grown children. Mr. Carreon joined the Irvine Office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2006 and handles both Workers’ Compensation and Subrogation cases for the firm.
EDUCATION
SCOTT A. NICHOLAS obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the California State University, Long Beach in 1978. He received his Juris Doctor from the Western State University, College of Law in Fullerton, CA and was admitted to the California Bar in 1985.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Nicholas has more than twenty years experience in Workers’ Compensation Defense, Serious and Willful Misconduct claims, and 132(a) claims. Prior to becoming a practicing attorney, Mr. Nicholas worked at Xerox Corporation where he received numerous awards for his performance as a data specialist. As an attorney, Mr. Nicholas has represented self-insured employers, insurance companies and third party administrators in Workers’ Compensation Defense since the beginning of his career in 1985.
Mr. Nicholas has had cases published in the California Compensation Cases to include the case of Nadine Melnyk, which set the precedent in connection with treating non-industrial conditions. This case was favorable to the defense.
Mr. Nicholas is a paneled attorney for the California State University system and the Wal-mart Corporation. He has represented the interests of General Electric, which included numerous claims with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
Mr. Nicholas became a partner in the law firm of Benthale, Nicholas and McKibbin in 1997. As a partner, Mr. Nicholas had numerous interactions with clients. He was involved in the administration in the office and preparing request for proposals for clients among many other tasks. After retiring his partnership, he joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2007. He now handles Workers’ Compensation defense in the Corona office.
EDUCATION
BRIDGET M. YOUNG obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the San Diego State University in 1993. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1996 and was admitted to the California Bar. Ms. Young is a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Young has more than thirteen years of experience in Workers’ Compensation Defense and subrogation. She was a partner at her previous firm and then went on to start her own practice in 2006 representing employers in Workers’ Compensation, 132(a) claims and Serious and Willful Misconduct claims. Ms. Young is a member of the California Bar Association and the San Diego County Bar Association. Ms. Young’s experience includes working with several high retention insureds and self insureds, developing an effective team approach between the employer and the claims professional in Workers’ Compensation Defense and Subrogation matters. She has also represented several insurance companies on personal injury and construction defect in addition to Workers’ Compensation and Subrogation. Ms. Young was an instructor for the National Business Institute lecturing on Workers’ Compensation law to insurance and legal professionals. Bridget spends her weekends cheering on her kids at baseball and soccer games. She has also enjoyed being a ballet dancer for the past 25 years and continues to take classes a couple times per week. She is now the Managing Attorney for the San Diego office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown.
EDUCATION
TINA M. KESTEN obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in History with Honors. She received her Juris Doctor from the Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Kesten served as a Paralegal Instructor prior to becoming an attorney. Ms. Kesten practiced as an applicant attorney for more than three years in Workers’ Compensation for a large firm where she handled 132(a) discrimination complaints and Serious and Willful violations as well. Her background in applicant work has given her the knowledge and skill to practice Workers’ Compensation Defense aggressively. She now solely represents large employers, third party administrators and insurance companies in Workers’ Compensation for all Southern California boards. On the weekends, she devotes her time to being team mom for her daughters’ OC Allstar dance team as well as helping her son coordinate various charity activities through his service organization. Ms. Kesten joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2008.
EDUCATION
MICHAEL MARMER received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 from the California State University of Long Beach. Mr. Marmer graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in 1981 receiving a Juris Doctorate degree. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in December of 1981.
BACKGROUND
The first ten years of Mr. Marmer's career, he worked as an associate attorney for a firm handling primarily plaintiff maritime and personal injury litigation, including representation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, The Jones Act, The Suits in Admiralty Act and other common law provisions of the federal maritime law. From 1991 to 2008 Mr. Marmer was a sole practitioner with his office located in the Wilmington area of the Port of Los Angeles. Mr. Marmer’s practice consisted of representation of individuals under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, The Jones Act, the federal maritime statutes, the California Labor Code, and general personal injury litigation. Mr. Marmer has civil jury trial experience as well as administrative trial experience before the WCAB and Federal Office of Administrative Law Judges.
Mr. Marmer joined the San Pedro office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 2009.
EDUCATION
ANTHONY L. ELSETINOW graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Philosophy. He received his Juris Doctor in 1992 from American University Washington College of Law. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 2001 and was a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar from 1992 to 2005.
BACKGROUNDMr. Elsetinow has over eight years of experience in Workers’ Compensation defense and subrogation in California, representing employers, third party administrators and insurance carriers. He brings a thorough and strong expertise in resolution of files and understanding of legal philosophy. He’s worked extensively on numerous workers’ compensation issues, made appearances at the Southern California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards and managed cases through settlement and trial.
Mr. Elsetinow worked in Civil Litigation from 1999 to 2002 in Long Beach, California, handling trials, hearings, arbitrations and mediations.
From 1992 to 1999, Mr. Elsetinow practiced law in Civil and Criminal Litigation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was also an Arbitrator for the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Compulsory Arbitration Division.
Mr. Elsetinow handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in the Irvine office.
EDUCATION
WILLIAM J. LANDSIEDEL received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from California State University Long Beach. He obtained his Juris Doctor from Western State University, College of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of California and has been admitted to all State Courts and many Federal courts, including the Central District in Los Angeles, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Landsiedel has more than thirty years of experience as a Workers’ Compensation attorney for the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF). From 1979 to 1981 he served as an attorney for SCIF in Woodland Hills before serving for the Long Beach office as an attorney in 1981 and 1982. He continued serving in that capacity for SCIF as the Attorney in Charge for USL&H (Federal) and State Workers’ Compensation in the Long Beach and the Cerritos office from 1983 to 1992.
For the past 10 years, Mr. Landsiedel has served as the Assistant Chief Counsel for SCIF in Southern California where he’s managed several large and small offices in Southern and Central California. Amongst his many assignments, he was in charge of the new attorney training class, a twenty four week course, where he trained the plurality of Workers’ Compensation attorneys in Southern California. His distinctions as Assistant Chief Counsel include establishing good working relationships with internal and external clients and being a life long advocate of building a team relationship between legal, claims and policy. Mr. Landsiedel has received the President Award for corporate excellence and the Supervisory Award as an advocate of excellence in the work place, and a standard of excellence for all legal departments.
Mr. Landsiedel holds a California teaching credential and has been an educator for twenty years, including teaching for nine years at a small private law school in Long Beach California, where he held the position of Professor of Law. He has taught classes in Business Law, Remedies, Agency and Partnership, Corporate law, Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law.
He is an elected member of the Laguna Beach School Board, where he now serves as the School Board Representative that sits on the separate Endowment Board of SchoolPower; this Board oversees the financial investments and gifts from the SchoolPower Foundation. Mr. Landsiedel joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2010.
EDUCATION
TARA KELLER graduated with honors from the University of Montana in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies and a Minor in English and Creative Writing. She received her Juris Doctor in 2008 from the University of Montana School of Law.BACKGROUND
Ms. Keller became a member of the California State Bar and joined the San Diego office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an associate in 2009. She received numerous honors and scholarships while attending the University of Montana School of Law, including the Mason Memorial Scholarship and the Law School Merit Scholarship. As a law school research assistant, Ms. Keller conducted research on nonprofits, trends in nonprofit vs. for-profit child care services and quality of employee benefits and effects of the Faith-Based Initiative on nonprofit’s abilities to unionize workers.Ms. Keller worked as a Field Organizer for Penn State Campus and Students for Barack Obama in 2008, successfully managing over 200 student volunteers and registering over 17,000 Penn State students to vote. She facilitated a faculty forum series of the candidates and executed an Election Day GOTV strategy that resulted in a 70 percent voter turnout, surpassing original goals by 10 percent.
From 2003 to 2005, Ms. Keller was employed as a Team Leader for MT Technology Corps in Missoula where she facilitated strategic planning processes to increase the organization’s capacity and sustainability.
Ms. Keller handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in the San Diego office.
EDUCATION
BARBARA P. BANEZ received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of the Philippines in 1982, majoring in Foreign Service and Languages. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of the Philippines in 1989. She has been a member of the California State Bar and the Workers’ Compensation Section since 1998 and has been a member of the Philippine Bar since 1991.BACKGROUND
Ms. Banez has over seventeen years of experience in Workers’ Compensation law. She began her legal career in the Philippines as a Judicial Clerk in 1991, preparing legal documentation, providing preliminary research work for the discussion of the court, analyzing legal data and pleadings, and acting as a proctor supervisor for the Supreme Court and the Bar examinationFrom 1992 to 1998, Ms. Banez worked as a claims adjuster and as an associate attorney, providing timely responses and payment of benefits to claims for Workers’ Compensation cases. Working with numerous caseloads, Ms. Banez maintained the case files and ensured all exhibits and evidence provided for use by medical legal examiners. She also interviewed and conferred with representative employees of insured companies to obtain and gather pertinent information regarding questionable Workers’ Compensation claims. As an associate attorney, she provided workers’ compensation defense and advice for claims, handled depositions, trials, Mandatory Settlement Conferences as well as many other duties.
Since 1999, Ms. Banez has specialized as staff counsel in Workers’ Compensation defense and litigation. She successfully drafted pleadings to be submitted to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB), including Petitions for reconsiderations, Objections to Declaration of Readiness to Proceed and Appeals to Decisions of Rehabilitation Unit. Ms. Banez’s expertise includes conducted training sessions with adjusters on recent Workers’ Compensation developments and working diligently with employer representatives, preparing them for testimony in depositions and court testimony.
Ms. Banez has acted as a consultant in Workers’ Compensation law since 2006. She joined the Glendale office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown in 2009.
EDUCATION
EDWARD VALLE graduated with honors from the University of California Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology, Law, and Society. He received his Juris Doctor in 2009 from the University of Oregon School of Law.BACKGROUND
Mr. Valle became a member of the California State Bar in 2009 and joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an associate in 2010. He previously had worked as a Law Clerk for the Irvine office in 2006 and 2007, negotiating liens, and communicating directly with clients, doctors, and lien claimants in preparation for trial and settlement. Due to Mr. Valle’s employment with the firm prior to passing the bar, he had the opportunity to learn early on working with our clients in an aggressive and expeditious manner, training under the Partners of the firm and gaining hands on experience. Mr. Valle also speaks Spanish fluently which provides a tremendous benefit in defending our clients.
Mr. Valle was a Court Certified Law Student for the Public Defender Services of Lane County, Inc in Eugene, Oregon from 2008 to 2009, where he made court appearances on behalf of clients. He also negotiated plea deals and dismissals with Assistant District Attorneys and filed motions with the Court on behalf of clients.
In 2006, Mr. Valle interned at the North Justice Center in Fullerton, California for the Honorable Tam Nomoto Schumann, where he reviewed summary judgment motions and interpreted for non-English speaking parties. He also interned for the International Law Offices of Kathryn Terry in Tustin in 2006.
Mr. Valle handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in the Irvine office.
CARRIE WEAVER graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. She received her Juris Doctor and graduated cum laude in 2008 from Syracuse University College of Law, where she was a member of the Justinian Honor Society. She was an editor for the Syracuse Science and Technology Law Reporter, while also working as a Student Attorney for the Disability Rights Clinic.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Weaver, known in the industry for her swift resolution of files and aggressive approach, has worked as an Attorney in workers’ compensation in Newport Beach, managing cases through settlement or trial and the resolution of medical liens and bills. She appeared regularly at the workers’ compensation district offices throughout California on behalf of clients. She conducted depositions, investigations, employer and witness interviews and legal research on a wide range of workers’ compensation issues and advised, communicated, and conferred with Claims Representatives and Insured Clients. Prior to working as an attorney, Ms. Weaver also worked as a Law Clerk in Orange County in 2008.
From 2007 to 2008, Ms. Weaver was employed as a Law Research Assistant in Syracuse, New York, conducting research and writing articles synthesizing current news and emerging case law pertaining to disability rights in the areas of technology, civil rights, education, international affairs, health care, benefits, and independence. She also worked as a Volunteer for the Syracuse University College of Law, Family Law Pro Bono Program.
Ms Weaver was a Law Clerk for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, D.C., in 2007, indentifying issues raised on behalf of the appellant and determining which of these issues had been procedurally developed for appellate review and determining whether statutory and regulatory provisions pertaining to appeals had been satisfied.
From 2001 to 2005, Ms. Weaver worked in child welfare for Family Continuity Programs at the Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc., in Sarasota, Florida.
Ms. Weaver handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in the Irvine office for third party administrators, insurance companies and large employers.
EDUCATION
T. ANDREW KIRK graduated from California State University, Dominquez Hills with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. He received his Juris Doctor in 2007 from Empire Law School in Santa Rosa, California, where he graduated Cum Laude and was a recipient of the Witkin Award for Excellence in Civil Procedure and the Community Service Award for his work at the Disability Law Clinic in Santa Rosa.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Kirk has spent the past two years as a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Sacramento, handling litigation, negotiating settlements, and managing caseloads, including complex asbestos cases involving multiple defendants, expert witnesses, medical evidence and discovery. Mr. Kirk has extensive experience in all facets of workers’ compensation cases, having also handled applicants’ claims. He is experienced in conducting intakes, taking depositions, and drafting and arguing legal motions. Mr. Kirk drafted writ for Baur v. City of Stockton, a published opinion by the Third District of Appeal.
Mr. Kirk worked as a Contract Research Attorney in Criminal Litigation in San Francisco from 2007 to 2008. He specialized in motions to suppress, motions to dismiss, and motions to exclude testimony and conducted extensive review of trial documents and appellate briefs for Westlaw’s records database.
From 2006 to 2007, Mr. Kirk was a Law Clerk in Criminal Prosecution and a Legal Intern for Consumer Law Mediation for the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. As a Law Clerk, he handled felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases and drafted successful criminal appeals, including People v. Miranda (SCR-506579) overturning a trial judge’s ruling on an abuse of discretion standard. As a Legal Intern, he managed cases involving consumer fraud, contractual disputes, and product dissatisfaction.
Mr. Kirk was honored with a Community Service Award as a Law Clerk for the Disability Law Clinic in Santa Rosa for his work in 2006 and 2007. He represented four different clients in their respective Medi-Cal appeals, Social Security appeals, Section 8 Housing appeals, and Department of Developmental Services hearings.
Mr. Kirk handles Workers’ Compensation defense in the Sacramento office for third party administrators, insurance companies, and large employers.
EDUCATION
STEVEN D. VIEN obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 from California State University, Long Beach, where he majored in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1979 from California Western School of Law in San Diego and was admitted to the California bar that year.BACKGROUND
From 1980 to 2003, Mr. Vien worked for firms in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor area, handling California State and L & H Act Workers’ Compensation and personal injury claims as counsel for Applicants/Claimants, and Plaintiffs, as well as criminal and family law cases.From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Vien worked for this firm, specializing in the defense of workers compensation cases filed with the State of California Workers Compensation Appeals Board and the United States Department of Labor - Office of Workers Compensation Programs. He has been trial counsel in more than 50 criminal and 10 civil jury trials in California and U.S. District Courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, in addition to dozens of binding and non-binding arbitrations.
He was an associate at Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown from 2003 through 2007, leaving the firm for three years before resuming as an associate at the firm in 2010. Mr. Vien currently handles mainly California State Workers’ Compensation cases as counsel for the defense, and is qualified to practice under the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and its extensions. He has previously handled civil subrogation matters for insurance carriers with liens in third party cases, and in connection with his defense of employers and their carriers in Workers’ Compensation cases, he handles their defense to claims of Serious & Willful Misconduct and alleged violations of Labor Code Section 132a under the California Labor Code.
Mr. Vien has sat as Judge Pro Tem and arbitrator with the Los Angeles County Superior Courts in Torrance and San Pedro on over 1,000 occasions, and has participated as a Panel Arbitrator and Mediator in both the South and the Southwest Districts of the Superior Court. Mr. Vien currently works in our San Pedro office.
EDUCATION
WILLIAM D. HENDRICKS obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the Northern Illinois University. While attending there, he was a member of the English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta. He received his Juris Doctor from the Glendale University College of Law and was admitted to the California Bar in 2002. He was a contributor to the Glendale University College of Law, Law Review Periodical with an article entitled "The failure of the 1994 Workers' Compensation Reforms".
BACKGROUND
Mr. Hendricks has nearly 18 years of experience in California Workers' Compensation. Over the last year specifically, he has resolved 6 catastrophic cases, received a Take-Nothing Findings and Order and prepared a semi-annual defense perspective of the California Applicant Attorney's Association's Convention. In addition, Mr. Hendricks' experience includes negotiation and settlement of complex, multi-million dollar Workers' Compensation cases, 132 (a) Claims, Subrogation and Reconsideration and Writ of Review preparation. Mr. Hendricks started his career as a Paralegal working directly with the Managing Partner prior to and during his attendance of law school. After being admitted to the California Bar in 2002, he began his work as an associate attorney in Workers' Compensation Defense.
Mr. Hendricks joined the Glendale office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 2009.
EDUCATION
SAMUEL SOHN graduated from the University of Chicago in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law School, graduating with honors in Criminal Law, Contracts, Law, Language and Ethics, and Dissertation.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Sohn became a member of the California State Bar in 2003 and joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an associate in 2010. He has been handling workers’ compensation defense since 2003 and has extensive trial experience at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards (WCAB) in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Mr. Sohn previously had worked as a Litigation Associate in Los Angeles, representing insurance carriers, third party administrators and employers in the defense of workers’ compensation claims. His experience includes attending conferences and trials at all Southern California WCAB’s and giving presentations to insurance adjusters at monthly seminars with respect to recent case law and industry pertinent topics.
Mr. Sohn also has worked in Medical Malpractice Defense, representing doctors and hospitals in connection with medical malpractice litigation. He was responsible for drafting demurrers, Motions for Summary Judgment, depositions and corresponding with doctors’ professional liability carriers.
Mr. Sohn handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in the Irvine office.
EDUCATION
KIRKHAM L. HAKE received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Pacific Union College in 1992. Mr. Hake received his Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California in 1996. He received Honors in the Trial Advocacy Program, was inducted into the Traynor Honor Society for academic achievement, and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for Insurance Law.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Hake has over seven years of experience practicing Workers’ Compensation law, specializing in providing full representation of workers’ compensation matters on behalf of insurance carriers and applicants. He has extensive law and motion practice, and detailed experience performing discovery and depositions on expert witnesses. Mr. Hake’s background also includes strong representation of clients at trial hearings, thorough knowledge on filing appeals and extensive civil pre-trial preparation.
Mr. Hake was an Associate Attorney working pro-active defense on behalf of governing boards of California public school districts prior to entering Workers’ Compensation law. He prepared responses to charges filed with the EEOC, DFEH and EDD and performed all stages of Title V investigations pursuant to the California Code of Regulations. Mr. Hake was also responsible for updating the school districts bi-monthly regarding new legislation.
From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Hake was employed as Claims Counsel for adjusting third-party claims of sexual molestation, sexual misconduct, wrongful termination, personal injury and automobile claims brought against schools, churches and campgrounds owned by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Mr. Hake began his legal career as a volunteer Law Clerk and volunteer Deputy District Attorney specializing in research, appeals, and prosecutions.
Mr. Hake joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP in 2010 and is handling Workers’ Compensation defense.
EDUCATION
AMANDA L. DEERING graduated CUM LAUDE from Austin Peay State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Sociology. She completed PhD coursework in Physical Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame from 2003 to 2006. Ms. Deering received her Juris Doctor in 2009 from the Michigan State University College of Law.BACKGROUND
Ms. Deering passed the California Bar Examination in 2009 and joined the Irvine office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an associate in 2010. At the Michigan State University College of Law, Ms. Deering was the National Trial Advocacy Competition Director and Advocate for the Moot Court and Trial Advocacy Board.
Ms. Deering previously worked as a Law Clerk in Los Angeles and Glendale, where she propounded and responded to discovery requests regarding fraud and consumer protection claims. Her work also included researching and drafting complaints, motions, deposition notices, and briefs on business and criminal and commercial law issues.
In 2008, Ms. Deering was employed as a Summer Associate in Nashville, Tennessee, preparing responses to office actions and drafting patent claims for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Ms. Deering serves as a Hearing Representative in Workers’ Compensation Defense at the Irvine office.
EDUCATION
JUSTIN WALKER graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1987. Mr. Walker received his Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991 and was admitted to the California Bar in 1992.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Walker became a member of the California State Bar in 1992 and has over eighteen years experience practicing as a Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorney. Mr. Walker has also handled subrogation matters for large employers. Mr. Walker has a history of handling all aspects of cases in trial and appellate courts in the area of worker’s compensation defense, including the transfer and management of a caseload from a group of insurance companies in liquidation. He has also practiced in the areas of insurance law, employment law, legal and medical malpractice, probate and trust actions, commercial disputes and construction matters.
Mr. Walker started his career as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Adjuster for Safeco Insurance Company and moved into the legal field a year later as a law clerk. After passing the California State Bar exam, Mr. Walker opened his own practice for more than twelve years. Mr. Walker has represented many large employers to include both private and public agencies including the Los Angeles Unified School District and serving as Assistant General Counsel for Robertson’s Ready Mix.
Mr. Walker brings a wealth of background and knowledge to Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown. He joined the team as an Associate in 2010 where he handles Workers’ Compensation Defense in our Irvine office.
EDUCATION
Aurora Ayala obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in 1999 from Pepperdine University, where she majored in Business Management. She also attended a Workers’ Compensation program through the University of Southern California.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Ayala began her career as a Hearing Representative in the area of Workers’ Compensation in 1990. She has attended a wide array of seminars on Workers’ Compensation and all its facets. She has covered over 700 appearances at Mandatory Settlement Conferences, Rating Conferences, Status Conferences, Trials, Vocational Rehabilitation Formals, depositions of applicants and witnesses and cross-examinations of physicians at various venues such as the San Diego, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Long Beach, Pomona, Riverside, San Bernardino, Oxnard, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Redding and Marysville Appeals Boards.
She has also taught several seminars on rating including Rating under AMA Guidelines, and the Supplemental Job Displacement/Voucher issues.
She began working with Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in early 2005 as a Hearing Representative in the Irvine office. Prior to that she worked at another defense firm for more than four years and prior to that she brought with her over 14 years of expertise and knowledge of handling applicants’ claims.
