Jefferson County committee approves receipt of $1 million malpractice settlement

May 07-- May 7--WATERTOWN -- Members of the Jefferson County Health and Human Services Committee on April 29 voted to accept a settlement on behalf of the county's employee health insurance plan after an executive session to discuss the health history of a particular employee.

The suit was brought against an unnamed defendant by an unnamed former county employee and his wife. According to the resolution adopted by the committee, the county has spent $1,450,432 in medical expenses since the alleged malpractice and is therefore entitled to a lien against that much of the settlement between the employee and the defendants. The county also claims it would be entitled to credit toward future medical expenses.

The settlement approves instead a lump sum receipt of $1 million for the county, which would forego its claim to future credit and not pursue any claim against a settlement received by the wife of the employee.

According to County Attorney David J. Paulsen, there are two doctors who are the defendants in the suit. Mr. Paulsen declined to comment further, saying that the settlement is not yet completed and is likely to include a provision making it confidential once it is approved.

The committee-approved resolution will not be finalized until it is approved by the full Board of Legislators, at which point Mr. Paulsen will be able to enter into the settlement agreement.

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