Lansing, MI – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the reappointments of Lester Owczawski, of West Bloomfield, Jack Wheatley, of Royal Oak, and George Wyatt III, of East Lansing, to the Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission.
The nine-member commission, reorganized by Executive Order 2011-6, reviews appeals decisions in cases involving the areas of unemployment insurance benefits and workers’ compensation.
“This is an experienced group of appointees and I look forward to the good work they will continue to do in support of working families and job providers,” Snyder said.
Owczarski was appointed to the commission in 2011. He has served on the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates as a legal assistant, on the Michigan Liquor Control Commission as an administrative law judge, and as a member of the Michigan Employment Security Board of Review. Owczarski earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Detroit.
Wheatley was appointed to the commission in 2011. He served as an attorney specializing in workers compensation, utility regulation and labor law with Lacey & Jones LLP. He also worked as a special assistant to the attorney general representing the state in workers’ compensation second injury fund cases. He served as director of the Michigan Unemployment Agency and director of the Bureau of Workers’ Disability Compensation. Wheatley earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Wayne State University.
Wyatt was appointed to the commission in 2011. He has more than 30 years of experience in workers’ compensation litigation, serving in private practice in Saginaw, East Lansing, Flint, and Eastpointe. Wyatt earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and law degree from Vanderbilt University. Wyatt is also the appointed chair of the Compensation Appellate Commission.
Appointees will serve four-year terms expiring July 31, 2018. Their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Source: MI Governor’s Office