Thomas Sculco
Thomas Sculco served as a Judge of Compensation Claims in the Orlando District from 2005-2022. He was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in March of 2005 and was subsequently reappointed by Governors Charlie Crist and Rick Scott. Before serving as a Judge of Compensation Claims, Mr. Sculco is one of the few lawyers in Florida who are double board certified, having earned certification in both appellate practice and workers’ compensation.
Mr. Sculco worked in private practice for 12 years primarily in the areas of appellate and workers’ compensation law. Mr. Sculco co-authored Chapter 6, “Workers’ Compensation Appellate Practice and Procedure” of The Florida Bar’s Workers’ Compensation Practice Guide, and has lectured at numerous seminars on workers’ compensation and appellate issues. He is past Chair of the Orange County Bar Association appellate practice and workers’ compensation committees and is currently an ad hoc member of the workers’ compensation sub-committee of The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee.
Mr. Sculco has been an adjunct professor at the FAMU School of Law in Orlando, teaching advanced appellate advocacy, administrative law, and supervising the judicial externship clinical program. He served previously as Chair of The Florida Bar workers’ compensation board certification committee and was President of the Conference of Judges of Compensation Claims from 2013-2015. He earned an A.B. degree in Political Science from Brown University in 1990, and graduated magna cum laude from Boston College Law School in 1993 where he served as a note editor for the Boston College Law Review.
The following are some of Mr. Sculco’s publications and presentations:
Co-authored the article “What Do You Mean I Can’t Say That? Avoiding Improper Opening Statements and Closing Arguments,” published in the Orange County Bar Association Bar Briefs in March and April of 2013.
Florida Workers’ Compensation Practice, Ch. 6, “Workers’ Compensation Rules of Appellate Procedure,” The Florida Bar (5th Edition, 1995).
Florida Workers’ Compensation Practice, Ch. 6, “Workers’ Compensation Appellate Practice and Procedure,” The Florida Bar (5th Edition, 1999 Supplement).
“Smokers’ Rights Legislation: Should the State ‘Butt Out’ of the Workplace?”, 33 Boston College Law Review No. 4 (July 1992).
PRESENTATIONS
|
Dates |
Presentation |
Role |
|
2022 |
OJCC Winter Seminar, “To Appeal or Not to Appeal” (First District Court of Appeal) |
Moderator of Judicial Panel |
|
2020 |
Seminar Entitled: “Appeals: A View from the Trial Bench” by the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) |
Presenter and Panelist |
|
2018 |
Seminar Entitled: “Appealing Wisely and Avoiding Unappealing Mistakes” by the OCBA |
Panelist |
|
2017 |
Seminar Entitled: “Hot Topics in Appellate Practice” by the OCBA |
Presenter and Panelist |
|
2017 |
Seminar entitled: “Advanced Legal Drafting: How to Get the “Write” result on Appeal” by the OCBA |
Presenter |
|
2016 |
Workers’ Compensation Institute, “Spring Forum” |
Moderator of Judicial Panel |
|
2014–2016 |
Seminar entitled: “Focus on Ethics and Professionalism” at the WCI Annual Workers’ Compensation Convention |
Presenter and Panelist |
|
2014 –2016 |
Seminar entitled: “First Responder Heart and Hypertension Claims: The Current State of Law and Medicine |
Presenter and Panelist |
|
2015 |
Seminar entitled: “Advanced Legal Drafting: How to Get the “Write” result on Appeal” by the Orange County Bar Association (“OCBA”) |
Presenter and Panelist |
|
2012 |
Seminar entitled: “Appellate Mediation” by the OCBA |
Presented section entitled: “Appellate Mediation Rules Overview” |
|
2012 |
Seminar entitled: “Appellate Mediation” by the OCBA |
Presented section entitled: “Appellate Mediation Rules Overview” |
|
2010 |
Seminar entitled: “Preservation of Error in Workers’ Compensation: What You Need to do in Proceedings Before the JCC to Obtain a Second Chance on Appeal!” by the OCBA |
Presenter of entire seminar |
|
2009 |
Seminar entitled: “The Art of Appellate Advocacy in Workers’ Compensation” by The Florida Bar |
Presented section entitled: “Post-Decision: The Opinion is Out, Now What?” |
|
2009 |
Seminar entitled: “Appellate Writs: Extraordinary Remedies to Solve Extraordinary Problems” by the OCBA |
Presented section entitled: “Writs in Workers’ Compensation Cases” |
|
2008 |
Florida Workers’ Compensation Institute, “Spring Forum” |
Presented on recent case law and “hot topics” as part of a “Judicial Perspectives Panel” |
|
2008 |
Florida Workers Advocates, Annual Meeting |
Presented on professionalism and ethics issues and recent case law |
|
2008 |
Seminar entitled: “Administrative Appeals” by the OCBA |
Presented section on Workers’ Compensation Appeals |
|
2008 |
Seminar entitled: The Employment Relationship in a Workers’ Compensation Case” by the OCBA |
Moderator and Presenter in seminar addressing employment law and workers’ compensation law issues |
|
2008 |
Orange County Bar Association “Judicial Panel” for Young Lawyers |
Presented to young lawyers on professionalism and ethics along with judges from 9th Judicial Circuit |
|
2008 |
Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section Lunch & Learn Series |
Presented telephonic seminar entitled: “Practicing with Professionalism” for workers’ compensation attorneys throughout Florida |
|
2007 |
Florida Workers’ Compensation Institute, “Spring Forum” |
Presented on recent case law and “hot topics” as part of a “Judicial Perspectives Panel” |
|
2007 |
Mock Trial competition at the FAMU College of Law |
Presided over Mock Trial conducted by student teams, and presented to students on evidence and trial practice issues |