Lindsey A. Lewis

Experience

Lindsey Lewis joined Franklin & Prokopik as Counsel in June 2016 and focuses her practice on the defense of matters in Central and Southeastern Virginia, including the Richmond Metropolitan and Hampton Roads areas.  She previously was associated with the firm’s Herndon, Virginia office before locating to Richmond, Virginia, where she was an Associate at one of the Top 200 largest law firms in the U.S.   Prior to that, Lindsey began her career at a defense firm in the District of Columbia after clerking for the Honorable Michael P. McWeeny, Chief Judge of the Fairfax County Circuit Court.

Lindsey has extensive experience in civil litigation in the areas of automobile/transportation liability, employment, premises liability, and professional liability, including defense of medical malpractice and nursing home claims.  Her clients have ranged from multi-national companies to local small business owners.  She also has represented doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health care professionals in connection with investigations by the Virginia Department of Health Professions and professional regulatory boards.

Recent Reported Opinions

 BRENDA JOHNSTON v. WILLIAM E. WOOD & ASSOCIATES, INC., Virginia Supreme Court, Record No. 151160 (June 2, 2016) – The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the Virginia Beach Circuit Court’s sustaining of Appellee’s Demurrer and dismissal of Appellant’s case with prejudice, upholding longstanding Virginia policy stating that no “advance” or specified length of notice is required when terminating an at-will employee.

TERESA PARKER v. WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, 41 F.Supp.3d 487 (E.D. Va. 2014) – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed with prejudice Plaintiff’s claims of negligent supervision and serving adulterated food in connection with a case wherein Plaintiff alleged that she choked on a foreign object.

Activities

Lindsey is a member of the Virginia Bar Association and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Professional Liability Section of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys.

 

Michael T. Bennett

Experience

Mike brings nearly two decades of legal experience as he first started his career in 2004 as a paralegal with a small firm in Columbia, MD. He continued working full-time while attending law school at night at the University of Baltimore, where he graduated with honors. He then worked as an associate for a large real estate firm in Bethesda prior to joining Franklin and Prokopik.

Since joining Franklin and Prokopik in 2015, Mike has litigated hundreds of cases at the Workers’ Compensation Commission, and over a dozen jury and bench trials throughout the state. He has also briefed and argued matters before the Maryland appellate courts. Mike has returned several defense jury trial verdicts and victories at the appellate courts, saving his clients immeasurable amounts in potential exposure. He has also written for the business law and workers’ compensation newsletters, and presented on various workers’ compensation topics through webinars and seminars.

Awards and Distinctions

  • Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers, Rising Stars for Workers’ Compensation, 2019-2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, 2022-2024
  • Member, National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network

Notable Cases

Fall 2023 – Pennsylvania Manufacturers Ass’n v. Cree, No. 730, Sept. Term,2022, 2023 WL 5739333 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Sept. 6, 2023).

Spring 2023 – Circuit Court Judge Affirms Workers’ Compensation Commission’s Denial of Benefits Based on Claimant’s Questionable Actions

Spring 2018 – Crawley v. Bd. of Educ. of Prince George’s Cnty., No. 2032, Sept.term,2016, 2018 WL 185834 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Apr. 18, 2018).

Summer 2017 – Reger v. Wash. County Bd. Of Educ., 455 Md. 68 (2017).

Summer 2020 – Jury Finds Willful Misconduct Bars Compensability in High Exposure Case

Summer 2018 – F&P Secures Victory for the Board of Education at the Court of Special Appeals

Fall 2017 – Preparation Leads to Successful Jury Verdict in High Dollar Case

Fall 2016 – Social Media Evidence Plays a Critical Role in F&P Trial Victory

Activities

Mike enjoys an active lifestyle with his wife and kids during his time away from work. He has an unyielding appreciation for the outdoors and enjoys almost any outdoor activity, including hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and recreational sports. Mike also volunteers for various activities at his kids’ school and helps coach their youth sports’ teams.

 

Barbara Thompson

Experience

Barbara Thompson joined Franklin & Prokopik in 2011.  She represents employers and insurers in a variety of workers’ compensation matters before the Workers’ Compensation Commission and courts throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.  Barbara has been practicing law for over 20 years and has 28 years of experience in the workers’ compensation industry.  In addition to her active litigation practice, she frequently gives external client training presentations and speaks at F&P seminars.  Barbara has also written articles regarding industry trends and presents case-specific webinars.

Before joining F&P, Barbara was staff counsel with Zurich North America.  She also worked for 10 years for ACE USA (formerly CIGNA Property and Casualty Companies), handling workers’ compensation claims and providing legal representation.  Prior to being an attorney, Barbara was a workers’ compensation adjuster.

Activities

Barbara is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Bar Association of Baltimore City, and Maryland Defense Counsel.  In her spare time, Barbara enjoys horseback riding, boating and is a proud baseball/horse show mom to her two kids.

Laura S. McKenzie

Experience

A principal of the law firm of Franklin & Prokopik, Laura McKenzie, concentrates her civil litigation practice primarily in the areas of state workers’ compensation, and general liability defense.

Awards and Distinctions

  • Selected as Top Rated Attorney to Super Lawyers for Workers’ Compensation 2015 – 2024
  • Maryland Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2009-2014

Activities

Laura is on the Negligence and Workers’ Compensation Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association and is a member of the Maryland Defense Counsel.

Angela Garcia Kozlowski

Experience

Before coming to Franklin & Prokopik in 2008, Angela Garcia Kozlowski worked as an associate attorney at Lord and Whip, P.A., in the areas of worker’s compensation and general liability defense.

During law school, Angela was a member and Associate Editor of the Maryland Law Review. Following law school, Angela served as law clerk to the Honorable Nancy Davis-Loomis of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County from August 2002 to August 2003.

Awards and Distinctions

  • Selected as Top Rated Attorney to Super Lawyers for Workers Compensation 2017-2024
  • Maryland Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2012-2016

Activities

Angela is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Baltimore City Bar Association, National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, and Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc. Angela also is an active board member for the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Educational Association. She is fluent in both French and Spanish.

 

 

Joshua M. Hoffman

Experience

Josh Hoffman has more than a decade of experience successfully representing and defending individuals and corporations against liability and other claims for damages.   He specializes in the defense of auto and premises liability claims.   In addition, Josh has substantial experience responding to and directing Emergency Response activities to protect and shield carriers and drivers from liability.  He has also handled countless matters for his clients in state and federal courts and is also experienced practicing before state and federal appellate courts.

Awards and Distinctions

Josh serves as the Vice-Chair of the Professional Liability Section of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys.

Activities

Josh is a member of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and the Fairfax County Bar Association.   He was a representative of the Student Government and a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity while at Wake Forest University.

John J. Handscomb

Experience

John Handscomb is a founding principal of Franklin & Prokopik and has practiced in the areas of workers’ compensation and employers’ liability for more than 25 years.  During law school, he was a Law Achievement Workshop Scholar for Professor James May in the Law Achievement Workshop program for two years.

Awards and Distinctions

  • Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers for Workers’ Compensation 2015 – 2024

Activities

John is an adjunct professor at the Community College of Baltimore County where he teaches Civil Procedure, Business Law and Workers’ Compensation. He is also a member of the College’s Legal Studies Advisory Board.

John has previously served as a member of the American Inns of Court and the National Law Foundation.  He has spoken on a variety of topics involving workers’ compensation before local and national groups.

 

Tamara B. Goorevitz

Experience

Tamara has worked extensively in trucking and transportation law, including the defense of liability and insurance coverage actions for motor carriers, brokers, logistics providers, and their insurers, transportation and logistics contracting, and the litigation of freight charge and freight loss claims. Tamara’s maritime practice includes investigating personal injury, collisions, and other vessel casualties, along with cargo claims, and compliance and regulatory matters.  She has significant experience handling jury trials, mediations, and arbitrations, and representing clients in matters ranging from property damage to catastrophic loss on a local, regional, and national level.  Tamara has successfully tried 70+ cases to verdict, working with clients in every step of the litigation process.  She is also a member of the firm’s 24-hour emergency response team, responding to accidents and incidents that occur outside of business hours.

Tamara’s retail practice includes cases involving slip and falls, general premises liability, falling merchandise, third-party criminal conduct claims, negligent security, defective products, false arrest and detention, malicious prosecution, food contamination, defamation, invasion of privacy, assault, and battery and other intentional torts, as well as claims involving the negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of retail employees.

Tamara regularly represents employers in various aspects of labor and employment law including the defense of a wide variety of labor and employment-related litigation both at the EEOC level and in state and federal courts, such as employment discrimination claims under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and claims based on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and Maryland Wage and Hour Laws.

Tamara has defended numerous product liability matters for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and insurance carriers in state and federal courts throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.  She handles cases involving commercial and consumer products, ranging from defective products to mass tort claims across a variety of industries.  She has defended personal injury and property damage matters involving hair care products, fire sprinkler systems, recreational products, and household products, including fire and catastrophic burn cases.

Awards and Distinctions

  • Selected as Top Rated Attorney to Super Lawyers for Transportation Law, Personal Injury Defense, and Civil Litigation Defense, 2015-2024
  • Bar Association of Baltimore City’s Presidential Award Recipient, 2016
  • Best Lawyers, Litigation – Insurance, 2023-2024

Activities

Tamara serves as General Counsel to the Maryland Retailers’ Association and on the USLAW Executive Committee and served as the Chair of USLAW’s Transportation and Logistics practice group from 2018-2020. She is a member of various professional industry organizations and has held many leadership roles, including DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar, Chair of the Trucking Law Committee (2012–2014), Vice-Chair of the Trucking Law Committee (2010–2012) and Program Chair for the 2010 Trucking Law Seminar; Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA); Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA), Chair of the Logistics and E-Commerce Committee and Representative at Large on the Executive Committee (2010–2012); and Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA).

Recent Speaking Engagements

Paid FMLA and Minimum Wage Hikes and Discrimination Enforcement, Oh My! – F&P’s Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2023

Sexual Harassment & Maryland’s New Expanded Law – F&P’s Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2022

Splitting Hairs at Work Protective Hairstyles and Other Workplace Appearance Issues – F&P’s Labor & Employment Virtual Seminar – November 2020

Identifying and Addressing Risks Inherent in Expanding Service Opportunities – TIA 2022 Captial Ideas Conference and Exhibition – April 2022

Seconds in Command:  Are We Doing Enough to Identify and Prepare Them?, USLAW Spring Conference – March 2022

Managing Stress in Your Personal and Professional Life, USLAW Women’s Connection – June 2021

What a Certificate of Insurance Does Not Tell You, Webinar – March 2021

Global Supply Chains: Were Businesses Asleep at The Wheel at the Beginning of the Pandemic and How to Avoid Similar Issues Next Time, USLAW Short Takes Video – November 2021

COVID King: Investigating and Defending the Liability Mayhem and Madness – USLAW webinar – June 2020

What Keeps You Up at Night, F&P’s Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2019

Employers on the Hook: Liability for Acts of Others, USLAW Retail Exchange – October 2019

Beyond the Basics: Best Practices for Effective Accident Investigation and Early Case Evaluation, Arkansas Trucking Seminar –  September 2019

The Sun Never Sets on Broker Liability, Webinar for Transportation Lawyers Association – June 2019

Lawyers: A Necessary Evil in the Supply Chain or a Blessing!?, TIA Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition – April 2019

Protecting the Value of Your Business, American Bus Association CEO Roundtable – January 2019

#MeToo, F&P’s Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2018

Transportation Claims are Not Just for the Trucking Industry, USLAW Network Retail & Hospitality Exchange – October 2018

Alternative & Effective Dispute Resolution, F&P’s Liability Seminar – June 2017

Litigating Against the Latest Efforts by the Plaintiff’s Bar to Misconstrue the FMCSR, TLA Annual Conference – April 2017

Supply Chain Visibility and the Possible Legal Implications, CSCMP EDGE Conference – September 2017

The Jubilee Panel! Half-Century Game Changers that Rocked the Transpo World and How They Impact Our Practices Today, TLA’s 50th Transportation Law Institute – November 2017

Employment Law in the Age of Trump, F&P’s Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2017

Spotlight on Sexual Orientation and Expression Discrimination, F&P’s Labor & Employment Seminar –  November 2016

Managing Difficult Tucking Issues in Jury Selection, DRI’s “Trucking Law in 2016: The Future is Here,” -April 2016

Cargo Claims Presentation, TLA Association Boot Camp – January 2016

 

Ralph L. Arnsdorf

Experience

An experienced civil litigator, Ralph Arnsdorf has been providing a broad spectrum of legal services to clients for over 35 years.  Specific areas in which he concentrates include construction litigation, intentional torts, premises liability, property and casualty, accident cases involving health and disability, automobile and insurance coverage disputes including declaratory judgments to determine the existence of coverage, bad faith claims, and fidelity claims.

Ralph works extensively in the construction field and has represented architects and engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and suppliers in a full range of cases from construction site accidents to delay and disruption of schedule claims.

Prior to joining the firm, he served as an attorney with Smith, Somerville & Case.

Awards and Distinctions

  • AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbard
  • Best Lawyers, 2020-2023, Litigation-Construction
  • Super Lawyers, 2021-2022

Activities

Ralph is a member of the California State Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, Baltimore City Bar Association, Baltimore County Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute, Inc. He is also an American Arbitration Association Panel Arbitrator for construction claims and a mediator in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. He has also lectured and published extensively on issues of law and procedure involving litigation practice, insurance defense and coverage, and construction law issues.