Governor Healey Nominates Six Attorneys to Serve as Administrative Judges at the Department of Industrial Accidents

Governor Healey Nominates Six Attorneys to Serve as Administrative Judges at the Department of Industrial Accidents 

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey nominated Maureen Counihan to serve as an Administrative Judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). The Governor also renominated Omar Hernández, Douglas A. Bean, Thomas P. Daniels, Matthew F. King and Michael Williams to serve an additional term as Administrative Judges at the DIA. These nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.   

 

“All six of these nominees bring deep experience and expertise to the Department of Industrial Accidents,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Their leadership helps ensure that injured workers and employers can navigate our workers’ compensation system fairly and efficiently.” 

 

“I am excited to work closely with the Governor’s Council to confirm these six excellent nominees and am excited to see the important work they do,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

 

The Department of Industrial Accidents oversees the Massachusetts workers compensation system, working to ensure that those involved have the resources needed to participate by assisting injured workers, employers, insurers, attorneys, and health care providers in following the Massachusetts workers’ compensation laws and regulations. For more information about the Department of Industrial Accidents, please visit there homepage.  

 

About the Nominees: 

Omar Hernández is currently the Senior Judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents and has served on the bench since 2003, when he became the first Hispanic-American to be appointed as an Administrative Judge. Over the past two decades, Judge Hernández has been responsible for overseeing the operations of the court. He previously served as Deputy General Counsel of the Massachusetts Human Resources Division, where he advised state government on labor and employment matters, including civil service, employee benefits, civil rights, collective bargaining, and statewide human resources policies. Additionally, Judge Hernández served as a Staff Attorney for the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Litigation Unit, representing state agencies in workers’ compensation matters. Judge Hernández received his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in 1985 and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1989. 

  

Douglas A. Bean is currently an Administrative Judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents and has served on the bench since 1992. Over the course of his tenure, Judge Bean has written more than 1,600 decisions and has resolved over 15,000 cases. Earlier in his career, Judge Bean practiced law in the private sector, where he handled more than 1,200 cases in District Court. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law in 1987. 

  

Thomas B. Daniels is currently an Administrative Judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents and has served in this role for nearly a decade. Prior to his appointment, Judge Daniels practiced law for more than 25 years as an insurance defense attorney at the Law Office of Steven B. Stein. Judge Daniels received his Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College and his Juris Doctor from Western New England Law School. 

  

Matthew F. King has served as an Administrative Judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents since 2019, presiding over hearings, conferences, and mediations. Prior to his appointment, Judge King practiced as a workers’ compensation attorney for 25 years, serving as an in-house staff attorney at Kemper National Insurance Company and later working at two private law firms, where he represented both insurers and injured workers. Earlier in his career, Judge King worked as a prosecutor in both District and Superior Court. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. 

  

Michael Williams has served as an Administrative Judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents since 2012, presiding over hearings, conferences, and mediations. Prior to his judicial service, Judge Williams was Director of Labor Relations at the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, where he oversaw labor relations matters, including collective bargaining agreements. He previously served as a staff attorney for the National Association of Government Employees and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. Judge Williams received his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. 

Maureen Counihan is currently an attorney operating her own solo practice, For more than 35 years, she has handled complex multi-party litigation in both state and federal court. Attorney Counihan also represents injured workers at the Department of Industrial Accidents. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University Law School, where she teaches Interviewing and Counseling. Attorney Counihan has spent several years as a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, including serving on its Board of Governors from 2017 to 2021. Prior to opening her own practice, she was a litigation associate at the firms of Greene & Hoffman, P.C., and the Law Offices of Martin Kantrovitz. Attorney Counihan received her Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Albany and her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law.