ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Human Resources with a Request to AUTHORIZE the Payment of a WORKERS COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT, in the Amount of $148,313.79, to a Police Officer Injured on Multiple Dates Going Back to 2014.
Body
BACKGROUND: This settlement involves a police officer who went off work on a line of duty disability from an injury on July 28, 2017. This officer filed three workers' compensation claims for the following dates: December 14, 2014 (Case 17 WC 028702), January 25, 2017 (Case 17 WC 028704) and July 28, 2017 (Case 18 WC 006309). In addition to the three workers compensation claims, petitioner's attorney filed a lawsuit in circuit court regarding the award of his PSEBA benefits (Public Safety Employee Benefits Act). Opposing Council submitted a total demand in the range of $270,000 dollars to resolve all claims. This case was pre-tried in front of Arbitrator Carlson who gave the City a favorable result. Based on Arbitrator Carlson's recommendation at pretrial the City was able to negotiate a more favorable settlement. The settlement of $148,313.79 will resolve all pending workers' compensation claims as well as the PSEBA action.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: If approved, the $148,313.79 will be paid by our 3rd party administrator from the City's escrow account. The escrow is funded by the current workers' compensation claims line item located in the City's employee benefits budget.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: N/A
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The current workers compensation case and pending lawsuit would be resolved and would eliminate any future litigation.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The cases would go unsettled resulting in further litigation, legal cost and possible awards that are less favorable to the City.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City
2. Choos...
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