Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Stephen Farmer (Acting Director)
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Risk Management
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE settlement of Claim 1023178056 and authorize County Administration and the Office of the County Attorney to approve applicable settlement documents.
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Why Action is Necessary
Pursuant to Broward County Code of Ordinance §1-51.3, the amount of the proposed settlement requires Board approval.
What Action Accomplishes
The claim will be full and final settlement of all claims.
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Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The Claimant is a 48-year-old former utilities mechanic, with the Broward County Water and Wastewater Services Division, who sustained a work-related accident while in the course and scope of employment.
On October 23, 2017, the Claimant was operating a County vehicle when Claimant was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The Claimant sustained significant injuries to multiple body parts, resulting in several surgeries between 2017 and 2025 and ongoing medical treatment.
Claimant has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Claimant was accepted as permanently disabled by the Social Security Administration on October 17, 2017. Since the Claimant was unable to return to work due to the injury sustained in the accident, separation from employment occurred on June 3, 2020. The Claimant was accepted as permanently and totally disabled under Workers’ Compensation on September 12, 2022.
The total projected case expenses are $1,859,253, including: medical $1,047,944 plus $75,000 (recent procedure ruling); indemnity $549,089; Claimant’s current attorneys’ fees of $135,220 plus $2,000 in costs; Claimant’s former attorneys’ fees of $50,000.
Source of Additional Information
Amy Lanham, Director, Risk Management Division, (954) 357-7219
Jacqueline M. Gregory, Esq., Conroy Simberg, (954) 518-1312 (Excess carrier assigned defense council)
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The settlement amount of $1,225,100 will be funded by the appropriate self-insurance fund at the time of release with full reimbursement from the County excess carrier, Safety National Insurance Company, at the time of the Order issued by the Judge of Compensation Claims on the settlement.