Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Purpose: Settlement of Workers' Compensation
C.P. No.: 2007-24055
Claimant: Wanda Roche-Woodard
Claimant's Attorney: Steven J. Kossup, P.C.
Attorney's Address: 18 Church Street, Suite 114, Newton, New Jersey 07860
Settlement Amount: $112,310.00
Funding Source: Insurance Fund Commission
Additional Comments:
Invitation: Corporation Counsel, November 18, 2013
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WHEREAS, the Petitioner, Wanda Roche-Woodard, instituted suit in the Division of Workers Compensation of New Jersey, Essex County, bearing C.P. Number 2007-24055 against the City of Newark seeking workers' compensation benefits as a result of an accident that she sustained on June 11, 2007, while working for the Legal Affairs Division of the Newark Police Department; and
WHEREAS, following settlement negotiations through Petitioner's attorney, Steven J. Kossup, Esquire, Corporation Counsel and/or its designee, Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, P.C. ("Outside Counsel") has 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 Ninety-Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Dollars ($97,920.00). 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 fee of Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($13,800.00), medical evaluation fees of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and a transcription fee of Ninety Dollars ($90.00); and
WHEREAS, the total value of this settlement with the above referred to fees amounts to One Hundred Twelve Thousand Three Hundred Ten Dollars ($112,310.00); and
WHEREAS, the total value of the settlement may be subject to minor changes in amount or distribution at the time the Settlement Order is executed by the Judge of the Division of Workers' Compensation, and these minor changes shall be of no consequence provided that there is no significant increase in the total value of the settlement; and
WHEREAS, based upon all of the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter, the 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 One Hundred Twelve Thousand Three Hundred Ten Dollars ($112,310.00).
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. 2007-24055 is hereby approved.
2. Upon receipt by the Corporation Counsel and/or its designee, Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, P.C., of all supporting documents, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to issue checks in the amounts as follows:
(a) $91,640.00 (Ninety-One Thousand Six Hundred Forty Dollars) made payable and mailed to: Wanda Roche-Woodard, 11 Sunnywood Lane, Corinth, Mississippi 38834. (It is understood that pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Order to be entered by the Judge of the Division of Workers Compensation, $5,780.00 (Five Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty Dollars) is being subtracted from the Petitioner's award to pay attorney's fees, and $500.00 (Five Hundred Dollars) is being subtracted to pay for medical evaluations in accordance with the settlement provisions.)
(b) $19,580.00 (Nineteen Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Dollars) made payable to the Law Offices of Steven J. Kossup, P.C., 18 Church Street, Suite 114, Newton, New Jersey 07860.
(c) $600.00 (Six Hundred Dollars) made payable to Vijaykumar Kulkarni, M.D., Post Office Box 2947, Paterson, New Jersey 07509.
(d) $400.00 (Four Hundred Dollars) made payable to Cheryl Wong, M.D., Post Office Box 2947, Paterson, New Jersey 07509.
(e) $90.00 (Ninety Dollars), made payable to William C. O'Brien, Inc., Post Office Box 428, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033.
3. Attached hereto are the certifications of the Comptroller of the City of Newark which states 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 Fund 024, Agency 24T, Orgn 5T24, Object 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 Corporation Counsel and/or its designee, Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, 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 $112,310.00 brought by Wanda Roche-Woodard, of 11 Sunnywood Lane, Corinth, Mississippi 38834, and represented by Steven J. Kossup, P.C., who suffered injuries arising out of an accident that occurred on June 11, 2007 while she was employed by the Legal Affairs Division of the Newark Police Department.