New Bern pays out more than $1.2 million in workers comp, lawsuit claims [Sun Journal, New Bern, N.C.]

Nov. 9—The city of New Bern's unsealed closed session minutes showed city leadership and staff were involved in more than a million dollars being paid out in worker's compensation and lawsuit settlements.

After reviewing the minutes from the Board of Aldermen meetings, the city's insurance may have covered up to $1.2 million in settlements involving accidents ranging from car crashes to unsafe playground equipment.

Several of the claims are said to be covered by the city's insurance, while others do not. The New Bern Sun Journal has asked for more information relating to the claims.

A former New Bern firefighter sustained an injury in 2015 that gave him permanent work restrictions, unable to return to his regular duties as a firefighter. The extent of the injury was not stated in the minutes, as the board discussed and approved a settlement of up to $100,000.

The motion was approved unanimously on Aug. 14, 2018.

The minutes cited another lawsuit between an individual and the city, this time the city authorized a settlement of up $15,000.

Alderman Johnnie Ray Kinsey made a motion to authorize settlement up to $15,000, seconded by Alderman Jeffrey Odham. The motion was carried unanimously on March 12, 2019.

An incident that took the life of an elderly woman in New Bern cost half a million dollars in damages. The woman's age was not listed in the minutes.

On May 6, 2019, one of the city's Ford F250 pickup trucks struck another car that was occupied by two women. One of the women passed away from her injuries, according to the minutes on May 14, 2019.

The deceased's estate received $457,000 and the passenger received $35,000, covered by the city's insurance, according to city Public Information Officer Colleen Roberts.

In an incident where the City of New Bern Water Resources staff was clearing & cleaning a ditch in Township 7 off Old Airport Road after Hurricane Florence, staff continued down the ditch bank, unaware they had moved past the city's property line.

In doing so, staff accidentally cut down trees on land belonging to a group named Right Touch. The city's insurance proposes a payment of $17,500 on Aug. 27, 2019.

Dating back to 2018, a man was severely injured at Kidsville when the ring he was wearing got caught on an exposed nail head.

The incident happened right before a scheduled full renovation of the playground to replace its wooden components with plastic ones, Roberts said.

A proposed settlement offer of $350,000 to $375,000 was unanimously approved by the board. The claimant's medical bills were approximately $150,000, with the city's insurance covering the cost, according to the May 26, 2020 minutes.

After providing a history of the incident, injury, and treatment, a worker's compensation claim was settled with an offer of $160,000, according to the Dec. 8, 2020 minutes.

The minutes stated medical expenses had totaled approximately $311,000 to date and future medical expenses may be in the area of $60,000.

Another worker's compensation claim with a city employee who sustained an on-the-job injury on April 10, 2019. The board motioned to authorize up to $85,000 on April 16, 2021 for out-of-pocket expenses associated with the medical procedure needed.

Reporter Trevor Dunnell can be reached by email at [email protected]. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription for as little as $1 a month. Newbernsj.com/subscribenow

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