Shall Judge Thomas E. Stine of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court be retained in office?
Source: electionresults.nebraska.gov
What does this office do?
- Deciding what state laws and the state constitution mean
- Setting rulings that lower state courts must follow
- Deciding major criminal and civil cases
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Gun Control,
Thomas E. Stine
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
Thomas E. Stine has been a judge on the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, which decides job-injury claims, since 2011. Before that he was a private lawyer and spent six years leading the civil lawsuits unit of the Nebraska Department of Justice.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 37 records
Received retention recommendations from 95.83% of lawyers who evaluated him in the Nebraska State Bar Association’s survey released on 2026-07-27. Another 4.17% recommended against retention. The voluntary survey gathered opinions from lawyers with recent professional experience with the judge. It was not an official association endorsement.
July 27, 2026
Source: nebar.com
His award of temporary disability benefits and past medical expenses to nurse Ladyan Patubo was affirmed by the Nebraska Court of Appeals on 2026-01-13. He denied permanent disability benefits and future medical care after finding insufficient evidence connecting her later symptoms to her workplace wrist injury. The appeals court found no plain error; her appellate arguments lacked specific supporting analysis.
January 13, 2026
Source: law.justia.com
Awarded Thuraiya Alhatel permanent partial disability benefits and future medical expenses for her right shoulder injury on 2025-10-06. He denied compensation for her left shoulder and further temporary disability benefits after she reached maximum medical improvement. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed on 2026-09-22. It reviewed conflicting medical opinions, tests of her physical abilities and the cause of her injuries.
October 6, 2025
Source: law.justia.com
Limited Judemarkarbar Ikeaba's compensation award on 2024-04-01 to medical expenses for a left ankle sprain. He found no permanent work injury or proof supporting other claimed injuries, additional disability payments or further care. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed on 2025-01-28 after reviewing the medical evidence.
April 1, 2024
Source: nebraskajudicial.gov
Dismissed Maria Chavez’s workers’ compensation claim against Tyson Fresh Meats on 2023-11-07. He found insufficient medical evidence connecting her alleged injuries to the workplace accident. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed on 2024-09-03. It cited inconsistent accounts of the injury and the absence of a supporting expert opinion on its cause.
November 7, 2023
Source: law.justia.com
Ordered Walmart on 2022-12-08 to pay Richard May’s related past medical expenses and future care for recurring elbow pain. He found the condition stemmed from May’s earlier Walmart injury, rather than a new injury at Flanders. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed on 2023-11-14, upholding his assessment of the medical evidence.
December 8, 2022
Source: nebraskajudicial.gov
Had his dismissal of truck driver Oscar Cajiao's compensation claim affirmed on 2022-03-01. He found Cajiao was an independent contractor because the company controlled delivery results but not the driving methods. The Nebraska Court of Appeals upheld that finding and found no harmful error from affidavits the judge rejected.
March 1, 2022
Source: nebraska.gov
Awarded school paraeducator Lynne Simpson benefits for a work injury on 2021-03-09, finding a 9% permanent vision loss but resolved concussion symptoms. He denied an independent examiner for lack of a medical dispute and additional temporary disability payments already covered by wages. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed on 2022-01-25.
March 9, 2021
Source: nebraska.gov
Received retention recommendations from 80.5% of lawyers expressing a preference in the Nebraska State Bar Association’s 2020 survey. The Omaha Daily Record reported the result on 2020-10-21. The percentage reflected members who chose to respond and state a preference.
October 21, 2020
Source: omahadailyrecord.com
Had his denial of further benefits to Tim Hamilton affirmed by the Nebraska Court of Appeals on 2020-04-21. He found the medical evidence did not support future care for two work injuries or permanent disability from the later injury. The appeals court upheld his assessment of conflicting medical evidence and testimony.
April 21, 2020
Source: law.justia.com
Had his workers’ compensation award to Brenda Ramos Flores affirmed by the Nebraska Court of Appeals on 2020-03-03. He found that lifting an oak rail at Menards worsened an existing shoulder condition and contributed to her need for surgery. The appeals court upheld his assessment of the medical evidence.
March 3, 2020
Source: law.justia.com
Had his ruling in Wynne v. Menard reversed on 2018-04-20. He awarded benefits for knee and shoulder injuries but denied permanent total disability after weighing disputed evidence at summary judgment. The Nebraska Supreme Court required further proceedings on the conflicting evidence.
April 20, 2018
Source: law.justia.com
Dismissed Abdi Hassan’s workers’ compensation claim on 2018-02-14 for lack of Nebraska jurisdiction over an Alaska seafood job. The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed on 2019-01-11, holding the employer’s occasional Nebraska recruitment did not bring it under the state compensation law.
February 14, 2018
Source: nebraska.gov
Awarded John Bower additional temporary disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, a $939 late-payment penalty and $7,500 in attorney fees on 2017-10-16. He rejected unsupported medical expenses and found the workers' compensation court lacked authority over private disability insurance and wrongful discharge claims. The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed on 2018-10-12.
October 16, 2017
Source: law.justia.com
Had his ruling in Greenwood v. J.J. Hooligan’s reversed on 2017-08-04. He dismissed the workers' compensation insurer after finding its policy canceled. The Nebraska Supreme Court found insufficient proof that the insurer mailed the required cancellation notice and returned the case for further proceedings.
August 4, 2017
Source: law.justia.com
Dismissed James Mischo’s request for additional workers’ compensation benefits on 2016-09-15. He found no material increase in impairment or loss of earning capacity. He had previously awarded temporary disability benefits and, on 2012-12-05, permanent benefits based on 20-percent loss of earning capacity. The Nebraska Court of Appeals upheld the earlier award’s procedure on 2014-08-19. It affirmed denial of additional medical care, temporary disability benefits, fees and penalties on 2017-09-26.
September 15, 2016
Source: law.justia.com
Denied Ian Hintz’s workers’ compensation claim on 2016-02-11. He found the workplace injury resolved within three days; later hip treatment followed a fall at home. The Court of Appeals reversed on 2017-02-28. The Nebraska Supreme Court restored the denial on 2017-09-29, finding sufficient evidence supported Stine’s ruling.
February 11, 2016
Source: ne.gov
Awarded hog farm worker Mark Kircher permanent partial disability benefits on 2015-02-11 for a 75% loss of earning capacity from a back injury. The Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed on 2015-12-08, finding sufficient evidence and a reasoned decision.
February 11, 2015
Source: law.justia.com
Had his award of additional benefits to Gary Lenz affirmed on 2014-06-27. He found that a later bone infection and partial foot amputation materially increased disability from an earlier frostbite injury, allowing a timely new claim. He awarded 30 weeks of partial disability benefits and related medical costs; earlier benefits remained time-barred.
June 27, 2014
Source: nebraska.gov
Had his disability award in Liljestrand v. Dell Enterprises reversed on 2014-01-24. He decided conflicting evidence without a new hearing after replacing the prior judge. The Nebraska Supreme Court found this violated the employer's right to due process and ordered a new trial.
January 24, 2014
Source: law.justia.com
Was appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court's Technology Committee on 2013-10-16 as the workers' compensation judge representative.
October 16, 2013
Source: nebraskajudicial.gov
Awarded Pat Zwiener temporary disability benefits after shoulder surgeries, medical expenses, late-payment penalties and attorney fees. The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the temporary disability award on 2013-04-19. It reversed the failure to credit $8,275.37 already paid and canceled the penalties. It also ordered recalculation of attorney fees for late medical bills.
April 19, 2013
Source: nebraska.gov
Awarded $10,000 in late-payment penalties and $500 in attorney fees to injured worker Bruce Holdsworth on 2012-04-16. The Nebraska Supreme Court reversed on 2013-06-14: his settlement release had waived those rights. The court retained authority over the case.
April 16, 2012
Source: law.justia.com
Awarded nurse Keri Clark compensation on 2012-03-01 for a workplace attack. He denied some medical bills, citing missing referrals or a lack of connection to the injury. The Nebraska Supreme Court reversed on 2013-01-18. The employer’s denial of compensation let Clark choose her doctors, and the disputed emergency care concerned her work injury.
March 1, 2012
Source: law.justia.com
Denied permanent total disability to Rafael Cervantes on 2012-02-22 after rejecting the parties’ agreement about injuries to both shoulders. The Nebraska Court of Appeals reversed on 2013-04-16. He again denied total disability after reconsidering the case. On 2014-04-15, the appeals court reversed again and directed a total disability award. It cited uncontested physical limits and evidence that he could not work.
February 22, 2012
Source: law.justia.com
Was appointed to the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court on 2011-09-13 by Governor Dave Heineman. The court decides workplace injury claims.
September 13, 2011
Source: newcc.gov
Represented state officials Mike Foley and John Wyvill in defending dismissal of claims arising from an audit of the Autism Center of Nebraska. On 2011-04-26, the Court of Appeals upheld dismissal of defamation, contract-interference, civil-rights and conspiracy claims but reinstated a privacy claim for further proceedings.
April 26, 2011
Source: nebraska.gov
Represented Nebraska and the State Patrol in the appeal against reinstating trooper Robert Henderson, who had joined a Ku Klux Klan affiliate. On 2009-02-27 the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld removal of the reinstatement award, finding it conflicted with nondiscriminatory law enforcement. Two justices dissented on the limits of reviewing arbitration decisions.
February 27, 2009
Source: nebraska.gov
Represented the Nebraska State Bar Commission in David Doering's admission appeal, decided on 2008-06-27. The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld denial because his U.S. law school lacked American Bar Association accreditation when he graduated. The case concerned Doering's qualifications.
June 27, 2008
Source: ne.gov
Represented district judge Karen Flowers in a challenge to her order requiring disclosure of a doctor’s conversations with his lawyer. On 2007-04-06, the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered the judge to withdraw the disclosure order because the communications were protected by attorney-client privilege.
April 6, 2007
Source: nebraska.gov
Coauthored an Attorney General opinion on 2007-02-21 about filing claims against Nebraska. It applied a two-year deadline to miscellaneous claims, including property damage from petroleum releases. A specific deadline set by law took precedence over this general deadline.
February 21, 2007
Source: ago.nebraska.gov
Represented the Nebraska State Bar Commission in opposing Charles Antonini’s admission based on character and fitness. On 2007-01-19, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the denial, citing the applicant’s conduct and lack of candor.
January 19, 2007
Source: law.justia.com
Represented the Nebraska State Bar Commission in supporting a waiver of bar-admission education requirements for Canadian-trained lawyer Brian Budman. On 2006-12-22, the Nebraska Supreme Court granted his admission without examination, finding equivalent legal training and sufficient U.S. law experience.
December 22, 2006
Source: nebraska.gov
Co-wrote and signed an attorney general opinion on 2006-01-03 about wages earned by inmates on work release. It found Nebraska lacked legal authority to withhold those wages for the Victim’s Compensation Fund. It distinguished work release outside prison from covered work programs on prison grounds.
January 3, 2006
Source: nebraskalegislature.gov
Represented Nebraska’s Department of Roads in opposing penalties for delayed payment of Robert Soto’s workers’ compensation award. The Nebraska Supreme Court ordered further proceedings on penalties and fees on 2005-02-18. Its 2005-06-24 revised opinion required a timely request for legislative funding. To avoid penalties, the amount above $50,000 had to be paid within 30 days after legislative approval.
February 18, 2005
Source: law.justia.com
Reported his work on Seward school-bus crash settlements to Nebraska’s Business and Labor Committee on 2004-02-23. As an Attorney General’s Office lawyer, he had participated in mediation of the claims. Nineteen claims had settled; one remained in mediation, and the bus driver’s separate case remained in court.
February 23, 2004
Source: nebraskalegislature.gov
Represented Nebraska in an appeal challenging workers’ compensation death benefits for highway worker James Soto’s widow and stepchildren. On 2003-04-01, the Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed the benefits, finding adequate evidence of dependency and no prejudice from allowing late discovery responses.
April 1, 2003
Source: law.justia.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Served on the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy Steering Committee and House of Delegates. Insurance Journal reported this professional service on 2011-10-07. He had practiced law for more than 20 years, including six as Nebraska’s Civil Litigation Bureau chief.
October 7, 2011Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: insurancejournal.com
Sources: sos.nebraska.gov · votedouglascounty-ne.gov