Matson, Jenna Blackwell

Mr. Woody has been with Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer since 2004. He concentrates his practice on large loss subrogation, ERISA reimbursement litigation, insurance defense and complex coverage issues and appeals. Mr. Woody has represented ERISA Plans seeking reimbursement in numerous federal courts around the country. He also serves as general counsel to health plans advising on all aspects of plan language to litigation. Mr. Woody is a member of the American Bar Association, Wisconsin Bar Association and the National Association of Subrogation Professionals. He is a frequent speaker and has contributed to numerous articles along with national treatises on insurance coverage and ERISA and workers' compensation subrogation. He also testified before the Kansas Legislature about the benefits of allowing Subrogation Provisions in Health Insurance Contracts in that state. In 2008, he was named a Rising Star by Superlawyers Magazine, an award given only to the top 2.5% of young lawyers in the State.

Mr. Woody also has a special interest in environmental and natural resources law. He is a member of the Natural Resources Division of the American Bar Association. He serves as legal counsel to the Ruffed Grouse Society, a national wildlife conservation association. In that position, he deals with all aspects of Forest Service decision-making and its consequences on the forest's stakeholders, including industry, Native Americans, residents, and environmental interest groups. He has also represented recreation, timber and county associations in natural resources and access litigation.

Before joining Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer S.C., Mr. Woody was an Assistant Attorney General with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in Madison. Ryan earned his J.D. in 2004 from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee. While at Marquette, he was involved with moot court, the school newspaper, practical internships, and the Environmental Law Society. He attended undergrad at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Ryan is married to Annette and they reside in Whitefish Bay, WI along with their West highland Terrier, Winston.

Pro Hac Vice Admissions

Approved to practice pro hac vice in Illinois, the U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, the U.S. District Court Western District of Oklahoma, the U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa and the U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia; the U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas.

Published Decisions:

Sierra Club v. Kimbell, 09-1639, 2010 WL 4054449 (8th Cir. Oct. 18, 2010) (Represented the Ruffed Grouse Society in a successful defense of the newly revised Forest Plan for the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota under NEPA)

American Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. David Golke, et al., 2009 WI 81, 319 Wis.2d 397, 768 N.W.2d 729 (Wis. 2009) (The Court adopted the position of Amicus Curiae, NASP, and created new Wisconsin law for preservation of evidence and proper notice to potential defendants).

Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc. v. Wallace, 531 F.Supp.2d 1366 (N.D.Ga. 2008), on reconsideration, 563 F.Supp.2d 1349, 2008 WL 2608158 (N.D.Ga. May 15, 2008); and 2010 WL 1525536 (N.D.Ga. Feb. 11, 2010) (Successfully represented an ERISA fiduciary in a reimbursement action to recover proceeds from the proceeds wrongfully allocated to a wrongful death beneficiary in a state tort recovery).

Anderson v. Commerce Const. Services, Inc., 531 F.3d 1190 (10th Cir. 2008) (Represented the plaintiff in a construction accident raising issues of choice-of-law between Nebraska and Kansas).

Diocese of Superior v. Swan & Associates, Inc., 2010 WL 2178879 (Wis. Ct. App. 2010) (Successfully enforcing a Georgia choice-of-law provision in an insurance contract issued to a Minnesota insured based upon a Wisconsin claim).

Sierra Club et. al v. Kimbell et. al, 595 F.Supp.2d 1021 (D. Minn. 2009) (Represented the Ruffed Grouse Society as amicus party defending the Forest Service in an environmental challenge to the revised land management plan for the Superior National Forest under NEPA and NFMA).

Representative Cases:

Manzey v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 06-cv-06082 (W.D. Ark. August 4, 2010) (Successfully represented an ERISA Plan fiduciary in pursuing reimbursement from a tort settlement and obtaining Rule 11 sanctions against the plaintiff’s attorney for asserting frivolous defenses to the subrogation claim).

PJ Ventures, Inc. v. Forest County, 2009AP1355 (Wis. Ct. App. August 10, 2010) (Represented the Wisconsin County Forest Association in the defense of Forest County’s ownership of a snowmobile bridge pursuant to the Wisconsin Snowmobile Trail Aid program).

Markel American Ins. Co. v. Skipper Bud’s of Illinois 08 L 1009 (Il. Cir. 19th Dist. 2009) (Case involved a large loss maritime subrogation claim at an Illinois marina. Issues included hold harmless and indemnification in winter storage agreement and application of maritime law. The case resulted in a favorable settlement).

North Carolina Teachers’ and State Employees’ Comprehensive Major Medical Plan v. Barber, 07CV77 (W.D. Pa. 2007). (Case involved choice-of-law questions relating to a state funded benefit plan that sought reimbursement from an employee’s dependant’s state tort action. Case resulted in a favorable settlement for the health plan).

Morton v. Rosen’s Diversified, Inc. Group Benefit Plan, 08CV4976 (D. Minn. 2008). (The plaintiff brought a state action seeking benefits under a self-funded ERISA plan. Suit was removed to federal court. Case was defended based upon theory that employer was entitled to offset for subrogation due to a prior tort settlement. Case settled favorably in employer's favor including a termination of future benefits related to the accident).

Webcrafters, Inc. v. Martin, 08-cv-293 (W.D. Wis. 2008) (Case involved a reimbursement claim by a self-funded ERISA plan against a member who failed to reimburse the plan following a large state court settlement. Issues in the case included the make-whole and common fund doctrines. Case resulted in a favorable settlement to the plan).

Trustees of the Texas Carpenters & Millwrights Health & Welfare Fund v. Sayyed, 06-cv-246 (W.D. Ok. 2006) (Self-Funded union welfare plan sought equitable relief under ERISA for reimbursement for medical benefits from a California state tort settlement. Court granted temporary restraining order and case settled shortly thereafter).