Meet Terry Torline
Terry Torline grew up on a farm in western Kansas, where he learned the value of hard work, independent thought, and team effort. As an Eagle Scout, Terry embraces the 12 principles of the Scout law, including trustworthiness, loyalty, and helpfulness. Today, Terry applies those principles to a robust insurance defense practice, representing clients against a variety of claims, including nursing home negligence, employment discrimination, products liability, and workers compensation.
Workers Compensation Defense
Terry has been litigating workers’ compensation cases for more than 30 years, and has represented employers, insurance carriers, self-insureds, and employees. Terry currently represents the Kansas Workers Compensation Fund and has litigated hundreds of cases to the Appeals Board as well as numerous cases before the Kansas Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court.
During the course of his years of practice, Terry has developed a proactive approach in his representation of workers compensation clients. Terry works with the client to obtain the necessary evidence to establish an aggressive strategy, and will move the case to closure as quickly as possible.
Additionally, Terry has had the opportunity to be involved in numerous cases which involve Medicare Set Aside trusts (“MSA”). Terry is very familiar with the rules, regulations and requirements promulgated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) for MSA creation. He has also assisted in investigating and facilitating the creation of MAS trusts in numerous cases, and has worked with and utilized various vendors who routinely prepare and submit MSA’s to CMS for review and approval.
Terry is a regular presenter on workers compensation issues, and has presented at the Kansas Department of Labor Annual Workers Compensation Seminar. He has been nominated as a Fellow of the College of Workers Compensation Lawyers, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the area of workers compensation since 2013.
Employment Discrimination Defense
Terry has represented numerous employers who are charged with discrimination against current and former employees. He has successfully resolved complaints ranging from age, race, and gender discrimination to allegations that employers failed to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled employees. In addition, Terry has experience defending employers against allegations that they retaliated against “whistleblowers,” both before regulatory bodies and in civil lawsuits.
Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
Terry has represented numerous clients in cases involving catastrophic accidents, serious injuries and death caused by automobile and trucking accidents, oil and gas explosions/fires, farm machinery and defective products. Terry has handled cases throughout Kansas, including cases in the Wichita area as well as cases in western Kansas where he grew up. Terry has assisted his clients in recovering substantial amounts to compensate them for terrible injuries, disfigurement, large medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Because he practices in a large law firm with numerous attorneys who are specialized in different areas of the law, Terry has access to resources beneficial to his clients that solo or small law firm attorneys are unable to provide.
Nursing Home Defense
Over the years, Terry has represented nursing homes against various allegations of malpractice. Nursing homes are governed by extensive federal and state regulations. Terry has litigation experience involving these regulations and in litigating the issue of whether the regulations themselves create private causes of action on behalf of nursing home residents seeking monetary recovery. Terry is also familiar with defending against other claims nursing homes often face, including negligence, breach of contract, Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), and breach of fiduciary duties.
Education
- Washburn University School of Law, J.D., 1987
- Benedictine College, B.A., 1983
Bar Admissions
- Kansas, 1987
Professional Affiliations
- Kansas and Wichita Bar Associations, Member
- Wichita Bar Association, Medical Legal Committee, Chairman (1997-2000)
- The Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, Member
Civic / Social Involvement
- Benedictine College Alumni Association, Board Member
Awards and Recognition
- Best Lawyers in America, 2013 - 2023
Representative Cases
- Sphabmixay v. Newell Rubbermaid, Docket No. 1,062,740 (Appeals Board Order 11/21/14) (Appeals Board determined that claimant’s asthma did not arise out of and in the course of his employment and denied claimant’s request to find that claimant had suffered an occupational disease).
- Renteria v. L&D Oilfield Service and American Interstate Insurance Co., Docket No. 1,064,924 (Award dated 11/17/14) (Administrative Law Judge denied all benefits to claimant. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $22,172.86 for benefits erroneously paid on behalf of the claimant).
- Billy S. Clark v. Classic Well Service, Inc. and American Interstate Insurance Co., Docket No. 1,063,087 (Order Dismissing Case with Prejudice 7/1/14) (case dismissed with prejudice after administrative law judge found the case noncompensable following a preliminary hearing. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $28,326.34 for benefits erroneously paid to or on behalf of the claimant).
- David Hall v. Tire Cutters, Inc. and American Interstate Ins. Co., Docket No. 1,064,512 (Award 2014) (Administrative Law Judge denied claimant’s claim. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $48,410.99 for benefits erroneously paid to or on behalf of the claimant).
- Hofman v. Mies & Sons Trucking and American Interstate Ins. Co., Docket No. 1,059,154 (Order Denying Compensation 8/13/13) (Administrative Law Judge denied both of claimant’s claims. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $4,280.47 for benefits erroneously paid to or on behalf of the claimant).
- Kelly Brown v. Chanute HealthCare and Premier Group Ins. Co., Docket No. 1,037,354 (Appeals Board Order 8/9/13) (the Appeals Board affirmed the Administrative Law Judge’s denial of all benefits to claimant. The ALJ ruled that the insurance company was entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $4,746.32 for benefits erroneously paid to or on the behalf of the claimant).
- David Sears O’Neal v. Lonestar Services, LLC and American Interstate Ins. Co., Docket No. 1053780 (Award dated 10/15/12) (Administrative Law Judge denied all benefits to the claimant. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $218,380.66 for benefits erroneously paid to or on behalf of the claimant).
- Federico Castro v. Plains Equity Exchange and Triangle Ins. Co., Docket No. 1059042 (Award dated 6/15/12) (Administrative Law Judge denied all benefits to the claimant. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to reimbursement in the amount of $17,803.83).
- Huggins v. Haysville HealthCare Center, Docket No. 107,407 (Kan. App. 10/26/12) (unpublished opinion) (Kansas Court of Appeals determined that claimant’s avascular necrosis did not arise out of or in the course of her employment. The insurance company was determined to be entitled to receive $32,019.06 in reimbursement from the Fund).
- Shirley v. Century Plumbing, 168 P. 3d 67, No. 97,157 2007 WL 2915610 (Kan. App. 2007) (unpublished opinion) (Court of Appeals determined that claimant’s accidental injury occurred when claimant was not covered by the Act and his dependants were not entitled to any benefits. The insurance company received reimbursement in the amount of $22,897.60 in benefits erroneously ordered paid to or on behalf of the claimant).
Published Articles / Presentations
- "Compensability of Traumatic Neurosis Claims Under the New Law." 40th Annual Workers Compensation Seminar, September 2014. Lecture
- "Compensability of Psychiatric Injuries in a Workers’ Compensation Claim." 39th Annual Workers Compensation Seminar, August 2013. Lecture.
- "Representing The Uninsured Respondent." Kansas Department of Labor Annual Workers Compensation Seminar, September 2005. Lecture.
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