Thursday, May 26, 2005
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Governor Names Los Angeles Attorney Joseph Miller To Chair Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday named Los Angeles attorney Joseph M. Miller chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
Miller, 64, has been a sole practitioner representing both employers and applicants since 2003. He previously spent 23 years at Seyfarth Shaw’s Los Angeles office, where he created and managed the office’s workers’ compensation practice.
He also spent six years as an associate at George, Miller and Bush and six years at Warren, Adell and Miller, where he represented labor unions and employees in workers’ compensation litigation, personal injury and employment issues. He served as chair of the State Bar Workers’ Compensation Law Advisory Commission and was a member of the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.
Miller has been a certified workers’ compensation law specialist since 1973. He is a graduate of Harvard University and Boalt Hall School of Law, and hold a master of laws degree from New York University.
He lectures frequently on workers’ compensation and employment law issues.
The appointment is effective immediately, but it was unclear when Miller would actually be sworn in. Miller referred a request for comment to the Governor’s Office, where a spokesman said he was uncertain when the new appointee would begin work.
The position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $117,818. The appointment would automatically terminate if the Senate does not confirm Miller within one year.
WCAB members are appointed for six-year terms, with the governor appointing one of the seven members as chair at his pleasure. Miller’s predecessor as chairman, former applicant’s attorney Merle C. Rabine, was appointed by then-Gov. Gray Davis in 2000.
Miller is a Democrat.
Copyright 2005, Metropolitan News Company