ST. PAUL, MN - Today Governor Mark Dayton announced three finalists for consideration to fill the current vacancy on the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, created upon the expiration of The Honorable Thomas L. Johnson's term.
Judge Bradley J. Behr: Judge Behr currently is a Workers' Compensation Judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings, where he conducts pretrial and trial level functions associated with claims for workers' compensation benefits. Previously, he was a solo practitioner in workers' compensation and automobile liability cases. Judge Behr has been a guest lecturer on workers' compensation at the University of St. Thomas Law School, the Hennepin County Bar Association, and Minnesota Continuing Legal Education.
Judge Manuel J. Cervantes: Judge Cervantes currently is an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings, where he provides hearing and mediation services to more than 100 state agencies and local units of government. Judge Cervantes has previously served as an Appellate Judge on the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, the St. Paul City Attorney, a Second Judicial District Court Referee, and as an Assistant Attorney General for the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. Judge Cervantes is a current member of the Humboldt Youth at Risk Task Force and mentors a Humboldt student. In 2011, Judge Cervantes was a recipient of a Minnesota Supreme Court Certificate of Recognition for nine years of service as a member of the Racial Fairness Committee.
Philip B. Moosbrugger: Mr. Moosbrugger currently is the Workers' Compensation Ombudsman at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. He previously served at the Department of Labor and Industry as a Mediator, Compliance Supervisor, Special Compensation Fund Director, and Assistant Commissioner. Prior to that, he was an associate and shareholder at Fitch, Johnson, Larson, Walsh and Held, P.A., where he litigated workers' compensation matters. Mr. Moosbrugger is a former member and past president of the board of directors of Legal Assistance of Washington County and chairman of the St. Agnes Schools Advisory Board.
The Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals is an independent agency of Minnesota's executive branch. It reviews workers' compensation cases decided by compensation judges at the Office of Administrative Hearings and in some cases decided by the Workers' Compensation Division at the Department of Labor and Industry.
An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
