Governor Scott Appoints Five New Judges of Compensation ClaimsFWA is pleased to welcome and congratulate the following individuals on their appointments as the newest Judges of Compensation Claims by Governor Scott.

Frank Clark has been a key member of the  All Injuries Law Firm in Port Charlotte for 8 years.   Judge Clark received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1984 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1987. Judge Clark practiced workers compensation law in Tampa for several firms, representing both employers and injured workers for several years prior to starting his own law firm in 1998. Judge Clark has been a member of the Florida Bar Association, the American Justice Association, the Florida Justice Association,  the Charlotte County Bar Association and Florida Workers’ Advocates.   He is a member of the board of directors of Friends of 440 and a member and former president of the Harbor Heights/Peace river Rotary Club.  Judge Clark is highly qualified as he has been continuously Board Certified by The Florida Bar as a Workers’ Compensation Specialist since 1994, and he enjoys an AV® rating from Martindale Hubble.

Keef Owens a shareholder with the Zimmerman, Kiser, Sutcliffe Law Firm .  Judge Owens received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University in Deland and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida College of Law.  Judge Owens previously represented  employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators before Judges of Compensation Claims throughout the State of Florida and before the First District Court of Appeal.   Prior to handling workers’ compensation cases, Judge Owens served as a law clerk for four years to the Honorable Charles M. Harris of the Fifth District Court of Appeal of Florida.

Thomas Hedler was the a founding partner of the Wender Hedler and Hesser Law Firm.  Judge Hedler has spent his career on both sides of fence within the workers compensation system.  Judge Hedler began his career representing employers and carriers in the defense of workers compensation matters.  Subsequently, Judge Hedler co-founded Hedler & Hessen to represented injured workers in their pursuits of workers compensation benefits.  Judge Hedler was named a Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2012 and 2013 and is Board Certified in the area of Workers Compensation by the Florida Bar.

Johnathan Walker is the managing partner with Conroy Simberg law firm in the Pensacola, Florida.  Judge Walker obtained a Juris Doctorate in 1997 from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.  In addition, Judge Walker holds a Master of Public Administration  degree from The University of South Alabama.   Judge Walker is AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of The Workers Compensation Section of The Florida Bar.

Gregory Johnsen of Pembroke Pines has been a state mediator for the State of Florida since 2006.  Prior to devoting his practice to mediation, Judge Johnsen was a senior associate with the law firm of Coia & Sutton, P.A. and Valdes & Villaverde, P.A..  Judge Johnsen received his bachelor’s degree from the Barry University and law degree from the University of Miami.