New Workers' Comp Officials in KY, NJ

Frankfort, KY and Trenton, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kentucky and New Jersey governors have announced new workers’ compensation judges. 

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin appointed Jeff V. Layson and W. Greg Harvey, both of Bowling Green, to be the new Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judges. According to an ABC 13 news report this week, Green “has 26 years’ experience practicing workers’ compensation law,” and Harvey, “has represented both employers and employees in workers’ compensation litigation since 2003.”

Layson will serve a term expiring July 14, 2020; Green will serve a term expiring December 31, 2017. Gov. Bevin’s office did not respond to WorkersCompensation.com request for comment by press times on the appointments. But according to ABC 13, Administrative Law Judges are appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate.

“Each judge shall be an attorney and have five years’ experience in the practice of workers’ compensation law in Kentucky or a related field and have extensive knowledge of workers’ compensation law,” reads the report, adding “Judges conduct hearings and supervise the presentation of evidence and render final decisions, orders or awards regarding workers’ compensation claims.”

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Along with the Superior Court, Administrative Law and Board of Taxation, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie filed the nominations with the state Senate for Judges Robert W. Sebera, from Pilesgrove in Salem County, and Dorothy Gayle Loftis, from Washington Township in Bergen County, to serve on the bench on behalf of workers’ compensation for the Garden State.

“Under a long-standing policy, we do not discuss nominations, which must be reviewed and approved by the Senate,” Brian Murray, Gov. Christie’s press representative, emailed to WorkersCompensation.com when asked for comment on the nominations.

However, Murray did provide resumes for the judicial candidates. Sebera, who is the president and sole practitioner of his own firm, noted on his resume he is a “skilled advocate, negotiator and proficient legal specialist with more than 30 years of diversified experience providing expert counsel in a broad range of areas” including workers’ compensation law, environmental litigation and insurance defense, among other areas. 

New Jersey State University Rutgers graduate Loftis has (according to her resume) fought for constitutional and civil rights in the workplace, and against discrimination. She has also worked in personal injury and workers’ comp. Loftis is also a former Bergen County Bar Association Trustee and Co-Chair of the Employment-Labor Committee and Labor Law Committee.

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