Kiara devotes her entire practice to workers' compensation litigation on behalf of employers, insurance carriers and self-insureds. She authors the New Jersey updates for What's Hot In Workers' Comp, the firm's monthly newsletter detailing significant developments in workers' compensation law, and has also been published in CLM Magazine.
Kiara sits on the New Jersey State Bar Association's Workers' Compensation Executive Committee, a group charged with studying and developing beneficial changes in the administration and procedures pertaining to workers' compensation.
Kiara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from New York University, with minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. She went on to graduate cum laude and earn her juris doctor from Rutgers School of Law. While in law school, Kiara served as a Notes and Comments Editor of the Rutgers University Law Review and was a semifinalist in the Hunter Moot Court Competition.
During law school, Kiara gained valuable experience as a law clerk assisting family law attorneys. She also worked for a national insurance company drafting discovery motions and answers to discovery requests, and attended various hearings and depositions. Kiara externed with Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court, where she wrote memorandums to the Court, recommending the grant or denial of certifications.
Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey, Kiara served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable William E. Nugent, J.A.D. Upon completion of the clerkship term, she worked for an insurance defense firm in Philadelphia, handling a variety of cases in the areas of construction coverage, premises liability and motor vehicle litigation.
Results
Favorable decision in New Jersey workers’ compensation matter.
The case involved a compensable claim for right hip and shoulder fractures sustained in a fall. At issue was the level of permanent disability for the compensable injuries and the relatedness of a subsequent hip replacement surgery. The petitioner’s demand before trial was more than $450,000, plus almost $78,000 for medical expenses. The employer’s final offer was $180,000. After a three-day trial in Ocean County, the judge awarded permanency benefits totaling less than $153,000. Further, the judge determined that the hip replacement surgery was not related and denied the entire $78,000 medical bill claim.
Workers’ compensation defense verdict for a prominent health care system.
The petitioner filed a motion for additional medical and temporary disability benefits, essentially alleging she was permanently and totally disabled from prior compensable shoulder and leg injuries. After a three-day trial and extensive briefing, the judge dismissed the motion. He determined that, despite the compensable injuries, the petitioner had plateaued medically and was not entitled to any further benefits.
Thought Leadership
What's Hot in Workers' Comp
NJ Workers' Compensation Legislation Update
June 8, 2026
A couple more bills were introduced for the 2026-27 session. Any updates since February have been highlighted in bold. A1023 | S3984 Medical use of cannabis under certain circumstances This requires workers’ compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage for the medical use of cannabis under certain circumstances. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. It was also introduced on March 19, 2026 and referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. A1045 Certain injuries to volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel This revises workers’ compensation coverage for certain injuries to volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A3724 Personal liability to employer officers for failure to pay for coverage This provides personal liability for owner, executive officer, or executive director of employer for failure to pay for workers' compensation coverage. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. On May 7, 2026, it was reported and referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee. A4617 Certain workers' compensation supplemental benefits and funding method This concerns certain workers' compensation supplemental benefits and funding method. For a permanently and totally disabled worker or surviving dependents after December 31, 1979, with some exceptions, this bill provides for an annual cost of living adjustment in the weekly workers’ compensation benefit rate. It was introduced on March 10, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. S241 Inclusion in database of appointed officials This requires that workers’ compensation judges and administrative law judges be included in database of appointed officials. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 to the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. A1870 | S1379 Workers' compensation benefits for certain workers due to September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks This provides workers’ compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. It was also introduced on the same day and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. On February 5, 2026, it was reported from the Senate Committee, 2nd Reading, and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. A2779 | S1521 Excludes Certain Illegal Aliens This excludes certain illegal aliens from workers’ compensation and temporary disability benefits. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. It was also introduced on the same day and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A2792 | S1555 Prevent Intoxicated Employees from Workers’ Compensation This prevents intoxicated employees from receiving workers’ compensation. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. It was also introduced on the same day and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. S2290 Increase Mandatory Retirement Age This increases statutory mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court Justices, Superior Court Judges, Tax Court Judges, Administrative Law Judges, and Workers’ Compensation Judges from 70 to 72. It was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A3167 | S2372 Workers’ compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships. This concerns workers’ compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. It was also introduced on the same day and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A1384 | S2757 Reduce Statute of Limitations in Medical Fee Disputes This reduces statute of limitations from six years to two years in medical fee disputes in workers’ compensation matters. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. It was also introduced on the same day and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. S3144 Testimony in Workers’ Compensation This concerns submission of testimony in workers’ compensation claims. It was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. S3342 Increase Mandatory Retirement Age This increases statutory mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court Justices, Superior Court Judges, Tax Court Judges, Administrative Law Judges, and Workers’ Compensation Judges from 70 to 75. It was introduced on February 5, 2026, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A3548 | S3571 Maximum benefits for certain volunteers This provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside employment.. It was introduced on January 13, 2026 and referred to the Senate Labor Committee. On March 2, 2026, it was reported from the Senate Committee, 2nd Reading, and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. It was also introduced on the same day and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. On May 7, 2026, it was reported and referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee.
What's Hot in Workers' Comp
Appellate Division Affirmed Increase in Permanency Despite Petitioner Declining Surgery
June 8, 2026
Grasso v. Monmouth Cnty. Sheriff’s Dept., No. A-2392-24 (May 18, 2026) In Grasso v. Monmouth Cnty. Sheriff’s Dept., Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) appealed from a workers’ compensation judgment awarding the petitioner an increase in permanent disability with fees and costs. By way of background, the petitioner worked as a corrections officer for MCSD when he injured his big toe on his right foot in 2016. He underwent surgery in 2019. An order approving settlement was entered in June 2021, for 27.5% of the right foot. In May 2022, the petitioner re-opened his case, noting he had an increase in pain and disability, and needed additional treatment. The petitioner testified at trial that his toe started to swell and he began to limp again. He noted that his injury impacted his ability to participate sports and play with his children. After an MRI, a podiatrist indicated his only option was to fuse the toe surgically, but the petitioner did not wish to go forward with surgery. He believed that his prior surgery made him worse. Petitioner also presented Dr. Alan Nasar as his expert, noting the degeneration would worsen without surgery and that it was the most reliable option. MCSD had Dr. Andrew Hutter testify, who found no material worsening in the petitioner’s condition, though he acknowledged degenerative progression. He believed the fusion surgery was a reasonable option. In February 2025, the workers’ compensation judge issued an oral decision, noting the petitioner proved by a preponderance of the evidence that he was due an increase in permanent disability, to 35% of the right foot. The judge also addressed apportionment of fees and costs, delving into whether MCSD made any counteroffers to the petitioner’s demand. While MCSD argued its failure to make a counteroffer was reasonable based on the finding of no increase by Dr. Hutter, the judge noted its failure to do so as well as its insistence in trying the case was “not dealing in good faith.” The judge also indicated he did not blame the petitioner for rejecting surgery. MCSD appealed, with the appellate division noting its standard to be deferential. The appellate division rejected MCSD’s argument that the judge erred in awarding an increase in disability when the petitioner rejected medical treatment. The appellate division noted that the judge had the opportunity to assess the petitioner’s credibility and reason for declining surgery. They also declined to address MCSD’s argument regarding a medical monitoring order, as it did not ask the judge for same in lieu of the increase in disability. Finally, the appellate division dismissed MCSD’s argument that the judge should have conducted a more detailed fact-finding hearing before issuing fees as it found no abuse of discretion.
