Shall Judge Dirk V. Block 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,
Dirk V. Block
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
Dirk V. Block has been a judge on the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, which decides job-injury claims, since 2017. Before that he spent nearly 30 years at an Omaha law firm, where he became managing member and tried workers' compensation cases.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 19 records
On 2026-07-27, the Nebraska State Bar Association released a voluntary lawyer survey in which all respondents evaluating Block recommended retaining him. The association disclaimed any official position on retention, and the report did not give his individual response count.
July 27, 2026
Source: nebar.com
On 2025-09-30, Block awarded Elvia Perez Yax disability and medical benefits after workplace finger amputations, plus late-payment penalties and $22,250 in attorney fees. On 2026-06-30, the appeals court upheld the penalties and fees and ordered an award of permitted court costs.
September 30, 2025
Source: nebraskajudicial.gov
A 2025-06-30 audit addressed to Presiding Judge Block found $18,900 paid after a benefit recipient’s death, with missing verification left unchecked. The court recovered all funds on 2025-05-20 and reported stronger payment checks. Suspected fraud by the recipient’s daughter was referred to prosecutors.
June 30, 2025
Source: auditors.nebraska.gov
On 2024-12-18, an audit addressed to Presiding Judge Block found that the court misclassified $4,221,417 in tax revenue as license fees. The court corrected its financial statement and later reported no repeat errors. The audit found no major control weakness.
December 18, 2024
Source: auditors.nebraska.gov
During 2023-01-01 through 2023-12-31, Block served as unpaid vice chair of CBMC, according to its tax return. The ministry promoted Christian outreach and mentoring among business and professional men. Its later filing for 2024-07-01 through 2025-06-30 did not list him.
December 31, 2023
Source: projects.propublica.org
A 2022-01-05 report documented Block’s $9,330 penalty against Oath Keepers and president E. Stewart Rhodes for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance. He assessed $15 daily after they failed to appear with insurance proof. The state sought to collect the judgment.
January 5, 2022
Source: omahadailyrecord.com
On 2021-11-16, the appeals court upheld Block’s ruling on William McNutt’s workplace shoulder injury. He awarded vocational rehabilitation but limited permanent benefits to 10% arm impairment, rejecting total disability and late-payment penalties.
November 16, 2021
Source: law.justia.com
On 2021-11-12, Block signed Christian Business Ministries’ 2020 tax return as president. It listed him as unpaid and described religious mentoring, church men’s programs, retreats, and workplace Bible studies for women.
November 12, 2021
Source: projects.propublica.org
On 2021-05-28, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld Block’s award to City of Holdrege lineman Benjamin Melton of 150 weeks for foot loss and 43 weeks for added leg impairment. It upheld his denial of vocational rehabilitation and late-payment penalties.
May 28, 2021
Source: nebraska.gov
On 2021-02-09, Block awarded temporary disability benefits to Winfield Scott Copley Jr. and assigned permanent arm impairment after a workplace accident. On 2022-03-01, the appeals court upheld temporary benefits but reversed the permanent impairment ruling because his recovery was unfinished.
February 9, 2021
Source: law.justia.com
A 2020-10-21 news report stated that 100% of lawyers who rated Block in the Nebraska State Bar Association’s survey recommended retaining him. The recommendation came from responding lawyers who disclosed a preference.
October 21, 2020
Source: omahadailyrecord.com
On 2018-12-12, Block awarded Kerry McNish permanent total disability benefits and future medical care after a workplace back injury worsened his existing condition. He included commissions and bonuses in his weekly wage. The appeals court upheld the award on 2019-10-29.
December 12, 2018
Source: law.justia.com
On 2014-04-11, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld medical care and temporary disability benefits for clothing-store worker Matthew Kim, whom Block represented. It linked inpatient addiction treatment to trauma from a workplace shooting.
April 11, 2014
Source: nebraska.gov
On 2011-09-09, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld further workers’ compensation proceedings for Chad Hofferber, whom Block represented. It rejected permanently ending his benefits for disobeying treatment orders and abusive communications, while rejecting his claim that the earlier hearing had improper venue.
September 9, 2011
Source: nebraska.gov
On 2008-04-18, the Nebraska Supreme Court partly restored a negligence case for injured worker Chad Hofferber, whom Block represented. It allowed his claim against a property owner to continue but upheld dismissal of claims against his employer and another owner.
April 18, 2008
Source: nebraska.gov
On 2004-10-22, the Nebraska Supreme Court reversed an appeals ruling favoring Robert Sweeney, whom Block represented. It restored the denial of depression treatment and related attorney fees because the depression arose from litigation and vocational assessments, rather than the workplace injury.
October 22, 2004
Source: nebraska.gov
On 2001-11-13, the appeals court upheld disability and medical benefits for Marvin Hale, whom Block represented after a workplace knee injury. It increased the employer’s late-payment penalty to $19,004.15 and upheld attorney fees.
November 13, 2001
Source: nebraska.gov
On 1997-12-16, the appeals court upheld permanent total disability benefits for Doris Crippen, whom Block represented. It allowed her earlier hearing loss and workplace arm injuries to be combined, with the Second Injury Fund paying $140 weekly.
December 16, 1997
Source: nebraska.gov
On 1988-07-29, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld a verdict against Union Pacific for damage at a dangerous railroad crossing. Block represented the truck owners. The court rejected the railroad’s claim that the driver’s conduct barred recovery.
July 29, 1988
Source: law.justia.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
On 2016-12-08, Block was appointed to Nebraska’s Workers’ Compensation Court. He had served as managing member, partner, and associate attorney at Marks Clare & Richards and as an associate at Knapp, Mues, Beavers, and Luther.
December 8, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: nebraskalegislature.gov
Sources: sos.nebraska.gov · votedouglascounty-ne.gov