
Karen J. Cullen
Shareholder

Karen J. Cullen was born in Miami, Florida. She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree from Stetson University in 1993, where she majored in mathematics, and graduated from the University of Miami, School of Law, with a Juris Doctorate Degree, cum laude in 1996. Ms. Cullen was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1997.
Ms. Cullen joined the law firm in June 1997, and became a partner in January 2001. For nearly twenty five (25) years Ms. Cullen’s practice has focused on the defense of workers’ compensation claims. She has tried a substantial number of workers’ compensation claims before judges in the Central Florida area. She has prepared briefs and presented oral argument before the First District Court of Appeal on workers’ compensation matters. She and the firm also have experience perfecting the recovery of third-party liens pursuant to Section 440.39, Florida Statutes.
Ms. Cullen is known for her significant experience in the defense of cases involving Sections 112.18 and 112.181, Florida Statutes (the statutory presumptions applicable to firefighters, law enforcement officers, correctional officers and/or emergency rescue or public safety workers). Ms. Cullen’s experience with presumption claims ranges from the initial 120 day investigation stage all the way through the trial and appellate phases. She has also lectured extensively on the handling of claims involving the statutory presumptions.
Board Certifications
Ms. Cullen became Board Certified as a Specialist in the area of Workers' Compensation law in August 2003.
Bar Association or Section Affiliations
Ms. Cullen is a member of the Executive Council for the Workers' Compensation Section of the Florida Bar and served as Chair for 2024-2025. She is also a member of the planning committee for the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum (2013 – 2019), the Orange County Bar Association, (former Orange County Bar Association Chair, Workers’ Compensation Section), Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) as well as a member of the faculty for the 2013, 2015 and 2017 Workers’ Compensation Trial Advocacy Workshop.
Articles Published
- Firefighter Cancer Presumption Proposed Florida Senate Bill Would Create Statutory Presumption for Cancer
- Grice is Down, But not Out?
- Statute of Limitations Suffers Another Setback
- Task Force Aims to Pump up “Heart Lung Bill”
- Legislative Changes to Section 112.18 (co-authored)
- A Permanent Impairment Rating is not Disability for Purposes of Entitlement to the Presumption
- To Trash or Not to Trash? That is the Question
- Emma Murray v. Mariner Health – What to Expect Now…
- The Florida First District Court of Appeal Holds Multiple Dates of Accident are Possible in Occupational Disease Cases (co-authored)
- Legislative Watch: Potential Changes to Chapter 112
- Current Issues & Trends in Workers’ Compensation (co-authored)
- Vital News for the Public Entity Employer: Firefighter/EMT’s Hepatitis C not compensable under any theory of recovery
- Recent JCC Decisions Question the Rate and Scope of Mileage Reimbursement