Lansing, MI – Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the following appointments to the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates:
Keith A. Castora, of Canton, is a current magistrate with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates and has been serving since 2013. He previously worked as an attorney with Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith. Mr. Castora earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Detroit College of Law, now known as the Michigan State University College of Law. He is reappointed for a term commencing January 27, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025.
Lisa L. Dykstra, of Grand Rapids, is a current magistrate with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates and has been serving since 2013. She previously served as an attorney with Kluczynski, Girtz, and Vogelzang. Ms. Dykstra earned her Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law. She is reappointed for a term commencing January 27, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025.
Richard J. Ehrlich, of Commerce Township, is an attorney with Zamler, Shiffman & Karfis, PC. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School. Mr. Ehrlich is appointed for a term commencing February 1, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025. He succeeds Robert Timmons whose term expired January 26, 2021.
John Housefield, of DeWitt, is a current magistrate with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates and has been serving since 2017. He previously served as an attorney and partner with McGinty, Jakubiak, Hitch, & Housefield, PC. Mr. Housefield earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He is reappointed for a term commencing January 27, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025.
Kevin P. Kales, of Allen Park, is an attorney with Legghio & Israel, PC. He earned his Juris Doctor degrees from Wayne State University Law School. Mr. Kales is appointed for a term commencing February 1, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025. He succeeds Jane Colombo whose term expired January 26, 2021.
Lenny Segel, of Farmington Hills, is an attorney with Bernstein and Bernstein. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School. Mr. Segel is appointed for a term commencing February 1, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025. He succeeds John Sims whose term expired January 26, 2021.
David H. Williams, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is a current magistrate with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates and has been serving since 2013. He previously worked as an attorney with Kluczynski, Girtz, Zamler & McCubbrey, PC. Mr. Williams earned his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School. Mr. Williams is reappointed for a term commencing January 27, 2021 and expiring January 26, 2025.
The Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates has been established as an autonomous entity within the Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency per Executive Order No. 2019-13. Only workers’ compensation magistrates can hear cases for which an application for hearing has been filed with the Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency. The Board of Magistrates currently consists of 14 members appointed by the Governor. All members of the board shall be members in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan and have been an attorney licensed to practice in the courts of this state for 5 years or more.
Appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Source: MI Governor’s Office