Gary Nickerson has been practicing law at Steptoe & Johnson for over twenty three years and has concentrated his practice in the representation and counseling of employers in workers’ compensation and related employment matters since 1987.  Mr. Nickerson serves as Managing Member of the Clarksburg office.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

Occupational Injury & Disease, Hearing Loss and Occupational Pneumoconiosis Claims
He represents self-insured employers and insured employers including the interests of:

• Coal mine operators
• Light and heavy manufacturers
• Retail and service businesses
• Restaurants
• Chemical industries 
• Construction contractors 
• Hospitals, nursing homes, and personal care facilities
• Wood products and timber industries

He has handled claims of injuries and diseases common to these employers including:

• Neck, back and head injuries
• Repetitive trauma injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chemical exposure claims
• Noise-induced hearing loss
• Occupational pneumoconiosis (black lung)
• Occupational stress related claims, including myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, colitis and other physical and mental conditions

Loss Prevention and Reduction
He assists employers in adopting policies and procedures on loss prevention and reduction including:

• Employee baseline testing and screening
• Accident reporting and investigation
• Internal claims administration and monitoring
• Alternative or modified duty programs
• Trial return to work and disability accommodation
• Investigation and prosecution of employee fraud and abuse relating to workers’ compensation

Workers' Compensation and Disability Discrimination
Mr. Nickerson counsels employers on the day-to-day application of the discrimination and reinstatement provisions of the WV Workers' Compensation Act, the ADA, the FMLA and other laws affecting injured or disabled workers. He also counsels clients on the interaction between workers' compensation and other employee benefits, including health and disability insurance, sick pay, vacation pay, and other benefits.

Self-Insurance Issues, Transactional Issues, Industry Classification and Premium Reduction
Mr. Nickerson represents employers on issues relating to the purchase and sale of a business, business reorganization and industry classification, premium issues and self-insurance matters.

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Mr. Nickerson is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of workers’ compensation law. He is a District Governor of the Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar and is a member of West Virginia State Bar Association and the Harrison County Bar Association. He is a member of the West Virginia State Bar Committee on Workers’ Compensation, the West Virginia State Chamber of Commerce Workers’ Compensation Committee and the West Virginia Self-Insurers Association. Mr. Nickerson is named a 2008 Fellow of the West Virginia Bar Foundation.  He is also a member of the West Virginia Forestry Association. He currently serves as a Board member on the Campaign for Legal Aid.

Within the community, Mr. Nickerson has served as president of the Bridgeport Kiwanis, deacon of his church and vice president of the Friends of the Bridgeport Library.  He remains active in youth sports, having previously coached baseball for twelve years and currently coaches a girl’s fast pitch softball team.  He also serves as president of the Bridgeport High School softball boosters and personally sponsors teams for Babe Ruth Baseball, fast pitch softball, and summer league men’s basketball.

EDUCATION

Mr. Nickerson received his Juris Doctorate from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia where he graduated with distinction.