National Forest Legal News Blog

Mr. Woody started nationalforestlawblog.com in 2008 based on the overwhelming demand for legal news and information about the National Forests.   Mr. Woody has a special interest in environmental and natural resources law. He is a member of the Natural Resources Division and Forest Resources Committee of the American Bar Association.  He serves as legal counsel to the Ruffed Grouse Society, a national wildlife conservation and sportsmens association, on matters pertaining to the National Forests.  He counsels natural resource clients in all aspects of Forest Service decision-making and its consequences on the forest's stakeholders, including industry, Native Americans, residents, and environmental interest groups. 

Mr. Woody was named a 2008 Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine, which honors the best 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40.  In addition, to National Forest legal issues, Mr. Woody concentrates his practice on ERISA litigation, subrogation and insurance defense and complex coverage issues and appeals.  Mr. Woody has represented ERISA Plans in numerous federal courts around the country.  Mr. Woody is a member of the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and an active member of NASP, the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.  He has contributed to numerous Subrogator articles along with national treatises on insurance coverage and ERISA and workers' compensation subrogation.  Mr. Woody recently testified before the Kansas Legislature about the benefits of allowing Subrogation Provisions in Health Insurance Contracts in that state.  To learn more about Mr. Woody or to contact him about your legal needs, visit his firm profile here. 

Mr. Woody has also served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in Madison.  He earned his J.D. in 2004 from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee.  While at Marquette, he was involved with moot court, the school newspaper, practical internships, and the Environmental Law Society.  As a member of the National Moot Court Appellate Team, he won best brief at the Marquette competition, and went on to argue an issue of commercial speech before a panel of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Regional Competition in Indianapolis .

Outside of work, he enjoys soccer, photography, backpacking and traveling.  He attended undergrad at Bradley University in Peoria, IL.  He previously worked in Yellowstone National Park, Caterpillar Inc. and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.  Mr. Woody is married to Annette and they reside in Whitefish Bay, WI along with their West highland Terrier, Winston.

Bar Admissions:

Wisconsin, 2004

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin

U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin

U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit

Education:

Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2004, J.D.
Honors: Dean's List Fall 2003
Honors: Best Brief at Marquette Moot Court Competition
Honors: President, Environmental Law Society

Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, 2001, B.S.
Honors: Mortar Board, Senior Honor Society
Honors: Bradley Honor's Program
Major:  International Business
Minor:  German

Published Works:

Workers Compensation Subrogation In All 50 States, Contributing editor: national treatise on workers compensation subrogation by Juris Publishers, 2008

ERISA & Health Insurance Subrogation in All 50 States, Contributing editor: national treatise on ERISA & Health Insurance Plan subrogation, Juris Publisher, Second Edition, 2008

Insurance Coverage in All 50 States, Contributing editor of national treatise on Insurance Coverage, Juris Publishers, Second Edition, 2008

Where is the Luggage?, NASP Subrogator, 2005

Published Cases:

Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc. v. Wallace, 531 F.Supp.2d 1366, on reconsideration at 563 F.Supp.2d 1349 (N.D.Ga. 2008)

Anderson v. Commerce Const. Services, Inc., 531 F.3d 1190, 2008 WL 2599823, 07-3128 (10th Cir. 2008)
Sierra Club v. Kimbell, -- F.Supp.2d --, 2009 WL 250011 (D.Minn.2009)

 

Classes/Seminars Taught:

The ABC's of Health Subrogation, 2006 NASP Conference, Orlando, FL, 2006

The Nuts and Bolts of Workers' Compensation Subrogation, Subrogation College, 2006 NASP Conference, Orlando, FL, 2006

Nuts and Bolts of ERISA Subrogation, Self Insured Services Corporation, Dubuque, IA, May 22, 2007

Recognizing Subrogation Potential, Motors Insurance Corporation, Atlanta, GA, June 7, 2007

The Intersection of Health Subrogation and Bankruptcy, 2007 NASP Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2007

Successfully Subrogating Occupational Accident Plans, U.S. Specialty Insurance Company, Houston, TX, November 15, 2007

Building a Successful Subrogation Program, Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, February 26, 2008

Issues in Property Subrogation, Society Insurance Company Annual Meeting, Fond Du Lac, WI, March 28, 2008

The Economic Loss Doctrine: The Monster in the Property Subrogation Closet, Execusummit Atlantic City, April 30, 2008

The Nuts and Bolts of Healthcare Subrogation In Wisconsin, Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., Marshfield, WI, May 7, 2008

Successfully Subrogating Occupational Accident Plans, OneBeacon Insurance Company, Buffalo, NY, June 17, 2008

 

Health Subrogation Best Practices in the Wake of the Shank Case, National Other Party Liability Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Minneapolis, MN, April 24, 2009.

 

Wisconsin Spoliation Law Update, NASP North Central Region Meeting, West Bend, WI, May 6, 2009,  

 

ERISA Subrogation 101, ARMSE Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, June 3, 2009

 

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Wisconsin Bar Association

American Bar Association, Natural Resources Section

Defense Research Institute

National Association of Subrogation Professionals

Past Employment Positions:

Wisconsin Department of Justice, Madison, Wisconsin, Assistant Attorney General