This week, word came of Steve Slepin's passing. Most in the world of Florida workers' compensation will not remember Chair Slepin. I am old, and yet only met him once. He served for a period in the regulation and adjudication of workers' compensation and made some significant contributions to the evolution of workers' compensation (r) in the 1970s.
He then left this neighborhood and practiced law in other areas. In the 40 years since he left workers' compensation, his practice was diverse and deep. He was known for his advocacy and intellect. He left the bench largely to regain his advocate role.
Chair Slepin served the state as Florida's Commission era waned and the administrative agency era dawned. Those who study the history of Florida workers' compensation would be hard-pressed to overlook Mr. Slepin. I have previously noted:
Stephen Slepin, “Director, Division of Labor, Florida Department of Commerce and Chair of the” IRC appeared before the National Commission in 1972 (Langham, Floridiana and the Workers’ Compensation Adjudicators, 2024, P. 154).
In that appearance on the national stage, he was an imperative. In his service, he was critical of the methods and practices in this area of the law and set out to professionalize the workers' compensation adjudication process. Many would say he revolutionized adjudication. He was, in a word, a "force," and his contributions are remembered by many (see below).
Chair Slepin was the first to chair an Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) composed of only attorneys. The old Florida Industrial Commission (FIC) had just been sunsetted. The age of Florida partisan committee management was over. The adjudications and regulatory duties shifted to an administrative agency, and the Florida Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) was formed for appellate review. It was a revolutionary time in the early 1970s.
For the first few decades of workers' compensation, appeals had been heard primarily by laypersons on the FIC who were statutorily pre-disposed to one side or the other (1935-1971). The IRC brought a new level of legal acumen and knowledge, and Chair Slepin was the guiding force. As part of the professionalization effort, he was there when the legislature in 1971 precluded the political involvement of adjudicators. Many find it anathema that there was a time when adjudicators were involved in campaigns and political organizations.
It was also a time of societal change. During Chair Slepin's leadership, the first black adjudicator (“Former assistant state attorney general Jesse McCrary, Jr., of Miami,” see Langham, P. 154) was appointed, serving on the IRC. The administrative age was coming into its own, and Chair Slepin was guiding it. He was reportedly one of the leaders "who helped create the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar," which will celebrate 50 years of service next summer.
It was Chair Slepin who ushered in the "first workers' compensation procedural rules." That referred to the first rules adopted by the Supreme Court in 1973. There had been such rules previously, but adopted by the FIC rather than the Court. the 1970s were an age of changes and the value of a uniform set of rules was readily apparent to Chair Slepin, and worthy of his efforts. Those 1973 rules persisted until 2004 when the Court acknowledged it had no legal authority for adopting rules of practice before an administrative agency.
Chair Slepin passed in October 2024. I did not know him well. I was fortunate to have one conversation with him at a Hall of Fame induction dinner several years ago. I was amazed at the retention and currency of his knowledge about workers' compensation, though he had been otherwise engaged for several decades. He understood workers' compensation on a level few might claim and remained conversant so many years later.
When his passing came to light, there were tributes in my inbox. I will not identify the speakers, but some poignant thoughts were:
"He ... taught me much about work ethic and a lot of other matters. ""A brilliant, articulate, genial individual that uplifted our practice with his involvement in the Industrial Relations Commission and appellate contributions.""He amazed me ,... how smart and witty he was as I started the practice of law. For me he was the foundation of my interest in Workers Compensation law.""He had a huge impact on my career.""A great man in every sense of the word."
"There was no doubt of his brilliance. He was a worthy opponent."
He fought "to give Judges independence but also to get pay raises, the name Judge in their title, their own Chief Judge, and so many other things."
He had a "massive vocabulary, steeped, as it was, in all classical literature and history. Steve Slepin was a modern-day renaissance man."One former judge observed "that he was one of the smartest lawyers he had ever known."Another former judge said about conversations with Mr. Slepin: "I know he was struggling to use one-syllable words for me to understand our conversation. Thoughts of conversations with Mr Slepin in the first 20 years of my career put a smile on my face.""He was a brilliant and exemplary gentleman."
One of his law professors reportedly said to him "Mr. Slepin, you seem to have the uncanny ability of shedding darkness on issues which are already obscure."
Rest in Peace indeed Chair Slepin. Your contributions are legendary here in the world of Florida workers' compensation. Our system and state are better for your involvement and investment here. You brought honest debate, critical thought, and a demand for professionalism that started a new era. You positively touched so many lives. RIP indeed.
