Welcome to the Workers'
Compensation Board
Mission Statement
Board Members
Hearings Division
Board Review Division
Administrative Services Division
Our mission here at the Workers' Compensation Board is to provide timely and impartial
resolution of disputes arising under Oregon Workers' Compensation Law and the Oregon Safe Employment
Act.
Abigail Herman, Board Chair
Abbie received a B.S. from the University of Oregon in 1975. In 1987, she received her
Juris Doctorate degree from Lewis & Clark Law School and became a member of the Oregon State Bar.
After becoming an attorney, Abbie worked as a trial attorney representing
a workers compensation carrier. She then came to work for the Workers’ Compensation
Board as a staff attorney and senior staff attorney in the Board Review Division. In
1991, she was appointed as an Administrative Law Judge. On August 8, 2005, Abbie became
Chair to the Workers' Compensation Board. As Board Chair, Abbie oversees all of the
divisions within the Workers’ Compensation Board. She also serves as one of the five
full-time members of the Board.
In addition to her contributions to the Workers’ Compensation Board, Abbie is a former
Board member of the Oregon Association of Administrative Law Judges and past chair of the executive
committee of the OSB Workers' Compensation Section.
Frank Biehl, Board Member
Frank attended Portland State University, where he majored in Political Science.
Prior to his appointment to the Board, Frank was employed for 19 years as a Product Development
Technician. In that time, he was a member of Local 78 of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper
Workers (AWPPW). He served on many local union committees and, at various times, was elected President,
Vice-President and Treasurer. From 1983 through 1995, during legislative sessions, he worked full-time
as a lobbyist for the Oregon Pulp and Paper Workers Council (of the AWPPW) regarding employment-related
issues, most notably those related to workers’ compensation.
In addition to his contributions to the Board, Frank served as a labor representative
on the Industrial Accident Advisory Committee from 1983 to 1990. From 1990 through 1996, he served
as a labor representative on the Workers’ Compensation Management Labor Advisory Committee. In
September 1996, Frank became a member of the Workers’ Compensation Board. He is currently serving
his fourth consecutive term as a Board Member.
Vera Langer, Board Member
Vera holds law degrees (J.D. and LL.M. in criminal law) from the Charles University School
of Law in her native Czech Republic. She came to Oregon in 1981 as a political refugee. In 1986,
she again graduated from law school, this time, from the University of Oregon School of Law. She
became a member of the Oregon State Bar in 1988.
Initially, Vera worked as a law clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals, and later served
as an Assistant Attorney General in the Appellate Division of the Oregon Department of Justice. In
1993, Vera became a staff attorney for a workers’ compensation carrier. In 1995, she joined a law
firm working as an appellate attorney representing employer interests, where she was responsible for
handling appeals to the Workers’ Compensation Board and appellate courts.
Vera became a Board Member on April 19, 2002. She is currently serving
her third consecutive term as a Board Member.
Greig Lowell, Board Member
Greig is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. He also holds a workers’
compensation claims examiner certificate and a general lines adjuster’s license.
Greig has over 20 years of workers’ compensation experience.
From 1986 through 2002, he worked as a claims supervisor/manager. He also served as the President
of the Oregon Self-Insurers Association.
In addition to his contributions to the Board, Greig worked as an instructor
in workers’ compensation courses for the Insurance Education Association and Lane Community
College. On April 19, 2002, Greig became a Board Member. He is currently serving
his third consecutive term as a Board Member.
Margaret F. Weddell, Board Member
Margaret attended Kansas University and the University of Missouri at Columbia, where she
received a B.S. in rehabilitation. In 1993, she received her Juris Doctorate degree from Lewis &
Clark Law School and became a member of the Oregon State Bar.
Thereafter, Margaret built her experience representing the interests of injured workers
in several Portland law firms. On February 29, 2008, Margaret became a Board Member.
In addition to her contributions to the Board, Margaret served as chair of the executive
committee of the OSB Workers' Compensation Section. For several years, Margaret also coordinated
the Workers’ Compensation Bench-Bar Forum. Currently, she teaches Workers’ Compensation law at Lewis
& Clark Law School.
Holly J. Somers, Presiding Administrative Law Judge (PALJ)
The Hearings Division ensures timely and impartial resolution
of Oregon workers’ compensation and Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA) disputes.
Dispute resolution can be accomplished in a number of methods.
Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) conduct contested case hearings which result in the issuance of an
Opinion and Order, consistent with statutory requirements. Additionally, ALJs provide motion decisions,
review and/or approve settlements between the parties. ALJs also provide mediation services.
Hearings
Division offices are located in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, Bend, Coos Bay, Pendleton,
and Ontario. Hearings are also held in Astoria, Klamath Falls, Newport, and Roseburg. Contact information for
ALJs and their judicial assistants is available on this website.
The Board provides timely and impartial resolution of disputes
appealed from its Hearings Division. The Board also approves claim disposition agreements, reviews
disputes regarding the processing of “own motion” claims under ORS 656.278, and resolves disputes
arising from third party settlements/judgments.
The Board consists of five full-time members, two of whom are
selected from among persons with backgrounds understanding the concerns of employers, and two of whom
are selected from among persons with backgrounds understanding the concerns of employees. The fifth
member represents the interests of the public and serves as the Board Chair. The members are appointed
to four-year terms by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate.
All five Board Members are required to impartially
apply the law and, once appointed, may not represent any special interest. The members also consult
with the Chair regarding the hiring of ALJs, as well as participate in adopting/amending administrative rules. In
making case decisions, the Board members may sit together “en banc,” which includes all five
members, or in panels of two or three. A concurrence of a majority of the members participating is
necessary for a decision whether sitting "en banc,” or as a panel.
Board
orders are appealable to the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Administrative Services Division
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The Administrative Services Division (ASD) is the operational center of WCB.
It provides support to the other two divisions to ensure that effective and efficient
service is provided to the public. Services include docket, hearing notice production,
interpreter
services, litigation coding and record retention. ASD also handles
the facilities, risk management, contracts and billing, mail processing, statistics,
payroll, and personnel on behalf of WCB.
