Members

             *          David O. Godwin, Jr.  –  A former Workers' Compensation Commissioner, Mr. Godwin has almost 30 years of experience in insurance claims and civil litigation.  Mr. Godwin began his career as a claims investigator with Equifax Services.  He was employed as a property and casualty claims representative for the CNA Insurance Company (1978-1982) and a staff attorney for the Royal Insurance Company (1982-1986).  A 1977 graduate of the American University with a BA in Political Science, Mr. Godwin is a member of the National Honor Societies for Political Science and Public Administration.  While working as a claim representative, he attended the Antioch and Potomac Schools of Law receiving his JD in 1982.  He began the private practice of law in 1987 with the Rockville firm Donohue, Ehrmantraut and Montedonico and stayed with the group until establishing Godwin & Hickey in February 2002, concentrating on complex civil litigation and workers' compensation defense.  A member of the District of Columbia Bar (1982) and the Maryland Bar (1983), Mr. Godwin is a member of the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Tax Court, the United States Court of Claims, the United States District Court of Maryland, the United Stated District Court for the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Maryland Court of Appeals.  A frequent speaker and writer on risk management, insurance, workers' compensation and employment issues, Mr. Godwin has been selected to be in Who's Who in American Law and The International Who's Who of Professionals.  Active in his community, he has served on several Boards for nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, Frederick Chapter and Lions Club of Frederick.  He also serves the citizens of Maryland as a member of the JAG Corp. in the Maryland Defense Force.  Major (MD) Godwin is currently assigned to HQJA, Field Detachment 2.  Email: godwin@gemvd.com 

            *        Robert C. Erlandson – B.A., Union College (1972), J.D., University of Miami (1976).  Law Clerk, Honorable W. Albert Menchine, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, 1976-1977.  Speaker, Update on Workers’ Compensation, The Bar Association of Baltimore City (1983); Residential Construction Disputes, MICPEL (1988).  Member, Judicial Nominating Commission, District 3 (2003); Civil Mediator, Circuit Courts for Baltimore City and County (2001); The Bar Association of Baltimore City, Maryland State Bar Associations, American Bar Association (Member: Forum Committee on Construction Litigation; Tort and Insurance Practice Committee); Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc. (Chairman, Workers’ Compensation Committee, 1989-1991; Co-Chairman, Legislative Committee, 1992-1993; Treasurer, 1993-1994; Secretary, 1994-1995; President-Elect, 1995-1996; President, 1996-1997); Defense Research Institute (Chairman, Publications Committee; Member and Vice Chairman, 2002-2003; Chairman, 2003- 2005, Worker’s Compensation Committee); Maryland Workers’ Compensation Education Association (Member, Board of Directors; First Vice President, 1997; President, 1998); Maryland Employer’s and Self-insurer’s Association (Member, Board of Directors, Legislative Committee Chairman, 2003).  Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Civil Litigation; Workers’ Compensation; Workers’ Compensation Appeals; Workers’ Compensation Defense; Workers’ Compensation Mediation.  Email: erlandson@gemvd.com

            *        Harold A. MacLaughlin – B.A. Gettysburg College (1971), J.D., University of Baltimore (1975).  Member, Maryland State Bar Association (member, Insurance Negligence and Workers’ Compensation); District of Columbia Bar Association; United States District Court for the District of Maryland; Defense Research Institute (Member, Workers’ Compensation Committee); Maryland Defense Counsel (Co-Chairman, Executive Relations, 2005-2007; Co-Chairman, Judicial Selections, 1997-1999; Treasurer, 1999-2000; Secretary, 2000-2001; President-Elect, 2001-2002; President, 2002-2003).  Practice Areas: General Liability; Products Liability; Insurance Defense; Civil Litigation; Management of Litigation Risk; Insurance Administration: Defense of Licensees. Awards: DRI, Exceptional Performance Citation (2002-2003); Baltimore County Government : Recognition of Efforts as a Bridge Builder to Advance Harmony Among Diverse Communities (2002). Mr. MacLaughlin achieved an A/V® rating from Martindale Hubbell®, the highest possible peer review rating for ethics and legal ability. Email: maclaughlin@gemvd.com

            *        W. John Vernon –  Mr. Vernon concentrates his practice on representing businesses and insurers with emphasis in general liability and workers’ compensation cases in federal and state courts as well as the District of Columbia.  He represents employers and insurers in Longshore Act claims.  He also serves as a court appointed mediator for the Baltimore City Circuit Court, and has served on the Peer Review Committee for the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission.  His experience includes appellate arguments in the Court of Appeals of Maryland and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  He is an active member and speaker for bar, insurance, and employer organizations concerned with administrative, legislative, and related matters of interest to the business community.  Practice Areas:  Civil Litigation, Workers’ Compensation, Insurance Defense, Administrative Law.  Education: American University (B.A. 1977), Washington College of Law of the American University (J.D. 1981).  Bar Admissions:  New York (1982); Maryland (1985); District of Columbia (1988); United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; United States District Court for the District of Maryland; United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  Past Positions:  Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of Labor Review Board (1983-1987); Fraud Investigator, New York City, Human Resources Administration, Bureau of Client Fraud Investigation (1981-1983).  Affiliations:   American Bar Association; Maryland State Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; Maryland Defense Counsel, Baltimore Claims Association, Association of Insurance Compensation Attorneys, Maryland Self-Insured Employers’ Compensation Association.  Email: vernon@gemvd.com

             *          Michael H. Daney –  B.S B.A., University of Delaware (1986), J.D., University of Kentucky (1989).  Deputy Attorney General for Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commissions and Industrial Accident Board, State of Delaware, 1990-1994.  Member, Baltimore Rotary Club, 1997 (Director, 2000-2002; Vice President, 2003-2004; President, 2005-2006).  Speaker: National Equine Law Conference, 1996; Maryland Pleasure Horse Seminar, 1995; Equine Law Symposium, University of Baltimore Law School, 2000.  Lecturer, University of Maryland Horse Management Program, 2002-present; Lorman Education Services, Workers’ Compensation Updater, 2002-2008; NFDA Convention, 2006.  Recipient: Paul Harris Fellow, 2003; Leadership in Law Award, 2006.  Member, Harford County, Kentucky (Member, Equine Law Section, 1990-) and Maryland State (Member, Insurance Negligence and Workers’ Compensation Section) Bar Associations; District of Columbia Bar; Defense Research Institute (Member, Workers’ Compensation Committee); Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.  Special Agencies: U.S. Department of Labor; Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; Maryland Racing Commission.  Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Equine Law; Insurance Defense; Civil Litigation; Legislative; Regulatory; Funeral Law; Occupational Safety and Health; OSHA/MOSHA.  Email: daney@gemvd.com

*          Richard T. LaFata  –  B.A., University of Maryland (1977), J.D., University of Baltimore (1980).  Commissioner of the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission, 1994-2008. Member, State of Maryland Bar Association, United States District Court, American Bar Association Task Force to Study the Use of the AMA Guidelines in Workers’ Compensation, Past Ex-Officio Member of the Maryland General Assembly Workers’ Compensation Benefits and Insurance Oversight Committee, Past Chairman of the Substantive Law Committee for Workers’ Compensation of the Baltimore City Bar Association, Past Member of the Governor’s Advisory Panel on Insurance Fraud (under Governor William Donald Schaefer).  Awards: University of Maryland Baltimore County Law Society Alumni Achievement Award (1998); University of Baltimore Law School Teacher of the Year – Adjunct Faculty (1999); National Congress of Parents and Teachers Life Achievement Award (2002).  Email: lafata@gemvd.com

Of Counsel

            *          Allan H. Kittleman  –  University of Maryland Baltimore County, B.A. (political science), 1981; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., with honors, 1988.  Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1988.  Attorney.  Partner, Herwig & Humphreys, LLP, 1996-2003 (associate, 1991-96).  Associate, Smith, Somerville & Case, 1988-91 (legal assistant, 1984-88).  Member, Maryland State and Howard County Bar Associations.  Member of the Maryland Senate since October 21, 2004.  Minority Leader, 2008-.  Minority Whip, 2007-2008. Member, Finance Committee, 2007-.  Member, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2004-06 (alcoholic beverages subcommittee, 2004-06; environment subcommittee, 2004-06; ethics & election law subcommittee, 2004-06; procurement subcommittee, 2005-06); Executive Nominations Committee, 2007-; Legislative Policy Committee, 2007-; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2007-; Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure, 2007-; Workers' Compensation Benefit and Insurance Oversight Committee, 2007-.  Member, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2007.  Member, Maryland Rural Caucus, 2005-; Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2005-.  Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (labor & economic development committee, 2007-.) Email: kittleman@gemvd.com

Associates
       
          *          Rena W. Heneghan –  B.A., Hollins University (1986), J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law (1993). Admitted to Maryland Bar 1993.  Ms. Heneghan concentrates her practice on general liability, insurance defense and workers’ compensation defense.  She also serves as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Washington County (2007- Present).  Her experience includes handling hundreds of trials in the District Court of Maryland, as well as several appellate arguments in the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. She is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, the Washington County Bar Association and the Maryland State’s Attorneys Association.  Email: heneghan@gemvd.com

             *           Elizabeth D. Cardona –  B.S., Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (2002); J.D., The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (2008).  Law Clerk for the Honorable Barry G. Williams, Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore City (2008-2009); Admitted to Maryland Bar, 2008; U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2009; District of Columbia, 2010.  Member of the Maryland Bar Association. Email: cardona@gemvd.com

         *            Daniel P. Moloney   –  B.A., New Mexico State University (2001); J.D., Case Western Reserve University (2005).  Mr. Moloney concentrates his practice on general liability, insurance defense, and workers’ compensation defense.  He is experienced in handling hearings before administrative agencies, jury trials, as well as appellate arguments in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.  He is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  Email: Moloney@gemvd.com