Bonnie Hoskins
Education: Bonnie graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1978 with Honors and High Distinction. She next studied at the Centre for Renaissance Studies in Oxford, England before entering the University Of Kentucky College Of Law in 1979. While attending the University Of Kentucky College Of Law, Bonnie served as a member of the National Moot Court Team. She received her Juris Doctorate Degree in 1982. Since that time, she has practiced primarily administrative law specializing in workers’ compensation defense.
Legal Experience: Bonnie clerked with Kentucky’s Special Fund while in law school and then practiced with the Special Fund for a short time after completing her law degree. She engaged in private practice in Eastern Kentucky representing clients primarily in the coal industry from 1983-1986 before joining Stoll, Keenon & Park early in 1987. Since that time, she has practiced workers’ compensation exclusively.
While working with Stoll, Keenon & Park, Bonnie served on the firm’s Administrative Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. She was also instrumental in developing and upgrading computer software specifically designed for the Workers’ Compensation Department.
In 2001, Bonnie founded Hoskins Law Offices PLLC.
Associations: Bonnie is a former Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee of the Kentucky Bar Association In that role, Bonnie was asked by the Executive Director of the Department of Workers’ Claims to serve on various advisory committees. Bonnie is also a regular speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars and has published numerous outlines and articles in continuing education publications. Bonnie is also a contributing author to the University of Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Desk Book.
Carl M. Brashear
Education: Mr. Brashear received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Psychology from Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, in 1985. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University Of Kentucky College Of Law in 1989 and received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business in 1999. There, he was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society and an Honors member of the Financial Management Association’s Student Division. Mr. Brashear has also completed additional course work in accounting and computer science.
Legal Experience: While in law school, Mr. Brashear worked as a policy analyst for the Coal Development Division of the Kentucky Energy Cabinet. He began practicing law in 1990 with the firm of Wells, Porter, Schmitt and Walker in Paintsville, Kentucky. Initially, he practiced in general insurance defense, but most of his work involved workers’ compensation defense. Mr. Brashear later practiced workers’ compensation defense for Clark, Ward & Cave and Stoll, Keenon & Park in Lexington, Kentucky before taking a position as a staff attorney with the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Board in 1994.
While working for the Workers’ Compensation Board, Mr. Brashear authored numerous opinions covering all aspects of Kentucky Workers’ Compensation. He worked closely with Hon. Larry Greathouse, a former Commissioner of the Department of Workers’ Claims, as well as a number of the current Workers’ Compensation Board members. Mr. Brashear authored several opinions for the Board that the Kentucky Court of Appeals later adopted verbatim. He also prepared summaries of noteworthy opinions issued by the Board. During the 2000 legislative session, Mr. Brashear prepared analyses of proposed statutory changes which were used by the Legislative Research Commission.
In January of 2002, Mr. Brashear became associated with Hoskins Law Offices PLLC. His practice areas have been in workers’ compensation and Federal black lung defense.