OKLAHOMA CITY - Effective Tuesday, Sept. 3, Lawton native John Blodgett will become the sixth Administrative Law Judge for the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Effective Tuesday, Sept. 3, Lawton native John Blodgett will become the sixth Administrative Law Judge for the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission. Blodgett grew up in Lawton and received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Cameron University in 1994. He taught for a few years before earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1999.
LAW FIRMS
His experience comes from years working in the law firms of Johnson, Hanan & Heron, in Oklahoma City; Frailey, Chaffin, Cordell, Perryman, Sterkel & McCalla, of Chickasha; Collins, Zorn & Wagner, of Oklahoma City; as well as his most current position at R. Ted Leslie PLLC, of Edmond.
In addition, Blodgett has worked as a city attorney for the City of Norman. Over the past 10 years, he has “focused his career on workers’ compensation law, representing respondents in workers comp cases as well as having some limited experience representing claimants,” reports the WCC.
Chairman Mark Liotta said, “We look forward to having John join our team here at our Oklahoma City offices. We continuously review our case volume, and it was clear we could improve our service to the people of Oklahoma by adding another ALJ position. He has the right experience and the right temperament to fill that position.”
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COURT
By identifying issues and providing fair and timely resolutions to existing claims and disputes involving work-related injuries, the Workers’ Compensation Court is dedicated to promptly and impartially serving the public.
Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system oversees hearings and appeals, ensures compliance with relevant statutes by employers, and regulates organizations who wish to self-fund their workers’ compensation obligations. Between the Oklahoma City and Tulsa locations, in 2018, the five administrative law judges of the WCC saw nearly 8,000 workers comp cases.
Primarily, Blodgett will hear cases in Oklahoma City, reporting to Chief ALJ Shane Curtin and the three Commissioners of the WCC. He will be placed on the rotation to hear cases in Tulsa as well. Blodgett, who currently resides in Norman with his wife Holly and their two daughters, will resign his position at the R. Ted Leslie Law Firm when he joins the WCC in September.