Has this happened to you? You are at a party or otherwise meeting some people and they find out you are an attorney. They ask what type of law do you practice and you say “worker’s compensation.” At this point either their eyes do in fact roll or you perceive that they did. Years ago, I used to say “insurance defense” or “litigation” to make it sound a bit more glamorous. After 18 years, I am a “comp attorney,” and I’m more than okay with that.

The best part of comp. is the people I get to work with and see on a regular basis. The old gang changes with new and younger faces appearing at the DWC every year. We lost Michael Londoff, Ernie Brasier and Sheryl Johnson all way too young and too soon. Jerry Lefton passed away recently having practiced within a week or two of his health failing. Jerry would call me, never identifying himself, and then conclude any conversation with: “Lefton, over and out.” They are all missed.

We have seen Jennifer Schwendemann leave the comp. field and Jeff Roth will be leaving us soon. Gary Sanguinet will be retiring the end of this year as well. We recently celebrated Barb and Donna retiring from St. Charles, both having served as court reporters and clerks for more than a few years. We are concerned and are praying for a few ALJs who have health concerns and Jim England, a vocational counselor known and respected in Saint Louis who has some health problems as well. We come together for Kids’ Chance, for legislative initiatives, for CLEs and lately for far too many funerals of our colleagues and their loved ones.

The older crowd will recall Tim Noble, Charlie Mogab, Bernie Ploch, and Dan Stiegerwald to mention just a few. These were associates, adversaries and colleagues that we dealt with on a very regular basis. In comp., you represent your client, but you do not cross a colleague. You work together on scheduling depositions, trial dates, and exhibits. You agree to disagree and maintain a friendly, if not familial, tone in the discussions and negotiations.

I am proud to do what I do and more importantly work with whom I work. Archer, over and out.