Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Purpose: Settlement of Workers' Compensation Claim
C.P. No.: 2015-16278
Claimant: Robert Praino
Claimant's Attorney: Norris & Norris, LLC.
Attorney's Address: 165 South Main Street, Suite 1, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865
Settlement Amount: $82,260.00
Funding Source: Insurance Trust Fund
Additional Comments:
Invitation: Corporation Counsel
body
WHEREAS, the Petitioner, Robert Praino, instituted suit in the Division of Workers Compensation of New Jersey, Morris County, bearing C.P. Number 2015-16278 against the City of Newark seeking workers’ compensation benefits as a result of an accident that he sustained on October 29, 2014, while working for the Public Safety Department, Fire Division when he injured his right shoulder and right knee during an active fire; and
WHEREAS, following settlement negotiations through Petitioner’s attorney, Norris & Norris, Corporation Counsel and/or his designee, Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, P.C., (“Outside Counsel”), have agreed to amicably resolve and settle this matter under Section 22 of the Workers Compensation Act (N.J.S.A. 34:15-22) by payment in the amount of Seventy Three Thousand Ninety Eight Dollars and Zero Cents ($73,098.00), Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Order to be executed by the Judge of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the City of Newark will also pay an attorney’s fee of Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Two and Zero Cents ($8,772.00), medical evaluation fee of Three Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents ($300.00 ) and a transcription fee of Ninety Dollars and Zero Cents ($90.00); and
WHEREAS, the total value of this settlement with the above referred to fees amounts to Eighty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Dollars and Zero Cents (----$82,260.00); and
WHEREAS, this settlement is subject to approval by the Judge of the Division of Workers’ Compensation; and
WHEREAS, the total settlement amount may be subject to minor changes in amount or distribution at the time the Settlement Agreement is approved and the Settlement Order executed by the Judge of the Division of Workers’ Compensation; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council believes it is in the best interests of the City of Newark, that minor changes to the amount of the settlement and distribution shall not require subsequent Municipal Council approval provided the settlement amount is not increased or decreased above $500.00 and all the terms and conditions are substantially the same as authorized by the resolution; and
WHEREAS, based upon all of the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter, Acting Corporation Counsel and/or Outside Counsel deem it is in the best interest of the City of Newark to accept said settlement in the total amount of --------$82,260.00 (Eighty Two Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Dollars and Zero Cents).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The settlement of the Workers’ Compensation matter bearing C. P. No. 2015-16278 is hereby approved.
2. Upon receipt by the Corporation Counsel and/or Outside Counsel of all supporting documents, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to issue checks in the amounts as follows:
(a) $66,951.00 (Sixty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty-One Dollars and Zero Cents) made payable and mailed to Robert Praino, 108 Cole Haven Terrace, Montague, New Jersey 07827. (It is understood that pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Order to be entered by the Judge of the Division of Workers Compensation, $5,847.00 (Five Thousand Eight Hundred Forty- Seven Dollars and Zero Cents) is being subtracted from the Petitioner’s award to pay attorney’s fees and $300.00 (Three Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents) is being subtracted to pay for medical evaluations in accordance with the settlement provisions.
(b) $14,619.00 (Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Nineteen Dollars and Zero Cents) made payable to Norris & Norris, 165 South Main Street, Suite 1, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 07962.
(c) $600.00 (Six Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents) made payable to Dr. David Weiss, 201 Woolston Drive, Morrisville, Pennsylvania 19067.
(d) $90.00 (Ninety Dollars and Zero Cents), made payable to William C. O’ Brien & Associates 525 Boulevard, Box 428, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033.
3. Attached hereto are the Certifications of the Comptroller of the City of Newark which state that there are available sufficient legally appropriated funds for the purpose set forth hereinabove and which state that the line appropriation of the official budget which shall be charged is Business Unit NW024, Dept. ID 24T, Div./Proj. 5T24, Account Code 96310. A copy of the Comptroller’s Certifications shall be filed by the Corporation Counsel in the Office of the City Clerk along with a copy of this Resolution.
4. A fully executed copy of the Order Approving Settlement shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by the Corporation Counsel.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the Corporation Counsel or his designee, Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, P.C., on behalf of the City of Newark, to effectuate settlement by entering into an Order Approving Settlement of a Workers’ Compensation claim in the amount of ---$82,260.00 brought by Robert Praino, for injuries he sustained while employed by the Public Safety Department, Fire Division.