Appointments Made to MI Workers' Compensation Board of Magistrates

Lansing, Mi (WorkersCompensation.com) - Gov. Rick Snyder today announced four appointments and three reappointments to the Workers' Compensation Board of Magistrates.

Housed within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the 17-member commission chairs hearings on workers' compensation cases statewide.

"These appointees bring years of valuable experiences to the board, and I am confident they will fairly and effectively serve the people of Michigan in these roles," said Snyder.

Appointed:

Keith Castora, of Canton, is a workers' compensation attorney with Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, a position he has held since 2000. He previously served as an attorney with various law firms and as a law clerk with Hartford Insurance Co. Castora holds a bachelor's degree in political science from State University of New York at Stony Brook and a degree from the Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law. He replaces Michael Mason.

Jane Colombo, of Grosse Pointe, brings more than 30 years of workers' compensation practice experience to the board, and has owned her own practice since 2007. She is former president of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Alumni Association and Catholic Lawyers Society boards of directors. Colombo earned a bachelor's degree in history from Eastern Michigan University and a degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. She replaces Thomas Moher.

David Williams, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is an attorney and partner with the Law Offices of Kluczynski, Girtz, Zamler & McCubbrey PC, where he has worked since 1986. He previously served as an attorney with Sommers, Schwartz, Silver & Schwartz PC's workers' disability compensation section. Williams received a bachelor's degree in speech and a law degree, both from Wayne State University. He replaces Kenneth Birch.

Lisa Woons, of Grand Rapids, is an attorney and shareholder with Kluczynski, Girtz and Vogelzang, where she has worked since 1990. She previously served as an associate with Ryan, Jamieson & Hubbell and as a law clerk and bailiff with the Kalamazoo County Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. Woons holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree, both from Valparaiso University in Indiana. She replaces Paul Purcell.

Reappointed:

David Kurtz Jr., of Bloomfield Hills, is a workers' compensation magistrate, a position he has held since 2009. He previously served as an attorney for Leclair Ryan, Ford Motor Co. and the CNA Insurance Co. Kurtz earned a bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Timothy McAree, of Rockford, is a workers' compensation magistrate, a position he has held since 2005. He previously worked in private practice, and served as an attorney with Lacey and Jones and Home Insurance Co. McAree received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Detroit and a degree from the Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law.

Robert Timmons, of Grand Rapids, is a workers' compensation magistrate, a position he has held since 2011. He previously worked in private practice, and managed his law firm, Robert C. Timmons PC. Timmons holds a bachelor's degree in geology from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Miami University in Ohio.

Appointees will serve four-year terms that expire Jan. 26, 2017, and their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

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