North Carolina Workers' Compensation Law: A Practical Guide to Success at Every Stage of a Claim

Valerie A. Johnson is a board-certified specialist in North Carolina workers' compensation law. She co- founded the firm Johnson & Groninger PLLC in 2011. The firm has offices in Durham and Charlotte and concentrates in the areas of workers' compensation law, personal injury, and bicycle crash cases. Valerie teaches trial advocacy at the University of North Carolina School of Law and has taught workers' compensation law at the Wake Forest University School of Law. She serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and in 2021 was chosen as the President-Elect of the organization.

Valerie joined the Board of Directors of Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company in 2015. Ms. Johnson was admitted to the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2011. She has been the co-editor of the treatise North Carolina Workers' Compensation Law: A Practical Guide to Success at Every Stage of a Claim since 2012. Valerie has chaired the Workers' Compensation Legal Specialization Committee of the North Carolina State Bar. Valerie is a Fellow of the National College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers and has been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America for the area of "Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants." She is a frequent speaker on legal and litigation topics.

In 2018 Governor Roy Cooper appointed Ms. Johnson to the North Carolina State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, and the American Advocates for Justice. Ms. Johnson is a graduate of UNC and an honors graduate of the UNC School of Law.

Kevin Bunn graduated from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in 1986, and received his Master of Public Administration degree from UNC in 1989. He graduated from the UNC School of Law in 1993. Kevin has practiced law in Cary, North Carolina, since graduating from law school. Kevin has been a Board-Certified Specialist in North Carolina Workers' Compensation Law since 2013. He is a frequent presenter at workers' compensation continuing education programs. He is a Fellow of the National College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers and was recently selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America for the area of "Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants."

Kevin is a former Chair of the NCAJ Workers' Compensation Section, and currently serves as Chair of the Section's Legislative Committee. He also serves on the NCAJ Board of Governors, Executive Committee and Finance Committee. Kevin is the Chair of the NCAJ Political Action Committee. Kevin is the author of Chapter 15, Death Claims.