$200,000 paid out in workers compensation claims by city | Paterson Times Paterson Times

$200,000 paid out in workers compensation claims by city

By Jayed Rahman
Published: July 24, 2014

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During a special meeting on Tuesday evening city official settled six workers compensation claims ranging from $16,000 to $50,000.

The claims were brought forth mainly by firefighters and police officers injured in line of duty. Anthony Viso, police officer, injured his head, neck, lower back, and legs in a car accident near East 26th Street and 7th Avenue on October 4th, 2009, according to city records.

Viso’s claim was settled for $45,522.

Another police officer, Luis Torres suffered injuries to his hand, back of the neck, and knee when his police interceptor was struck by another vehicle on Church and Ellison Streets on January 27th, 2013, according to records.

Torres’s claim was settled for $26,766.

Three firefighters injured in line of duty also made workers compensation claims. Michael Walker, a firefighter, was injured in the left leg when he stepped off a rig after turning from an alarm on February 12th, 2011, according to records.

Walker’s claim was settled for $16,616.

A second firefighter, Kenneth West sustained injuries to his knee when he slipped while walking down steps at a firehouse on November 17th, 2011, according to records. West’s claim was settled for $23.433.

Eric Beagin, third firefighter, suffered injuries to his shoulder while pulling out a ceiling during a fire on February 18th, 2011 on Grand Street, according to records. Beagin’s claim was settled for $36,144.

The highest settlement amount went to Ramon Ortiz-Pagan, a public works worker. Ortiz-Pagan was injured in three different incidents, according to records. Ortiz-Pagan injured his shoulder whilst unloading lockers at Lou Costello Pool on March 27th, 2009.

He later re-injured his shoulder, neck, and back on April 8th, 2009 when a city vehicle in which he was a passenger was struck by another vehicle on Market Street. In a third incident, Ortiz-Pagan sustained injuries to his shoulder, small finger, when his right arm was caught in the tailgate of a truck while he was loading on September 13th, 2011.

Ortiz-Pagan’s claim was settled for $50,812.

Council members voted approving the settlements following executive sessions discussions behind closed doors.


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