Submitted By: Richard Dennis
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Presentation By: William E Sexton
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Department: Human Resources and Risk Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Workers’ compensation settlement in the matter of Patricia Mraz versus the City of Ocala, Florida, with a proposed settlement amount of $96,250
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Fiscally Sustainable, Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Claimant was a police officer for the City of Ocala. Her date of hire was March 11, 1996. She retired from the City of Ocala on July 31, 2025. She is currently 59 years old.
The Claimant has two dates of injury: December 21, 2015, and February 13, 2018. The City has asserted the statute of limitations against the 2015 date of the accident. The date of the accident, February 13, 2018, remains compensable.
As to the February 13, 2018, accident, the Claimant slipped on a wet metal ramp, striking both knees, but predominantly her right knee.
Following the Claimant’s 2018 injury, she was initially treated at the City’s employee health center, CareHere, and an MRI was completed. The MRI took place on February 28, 2018, which indicated as follows:
• ACL graft appears intact
• Horizontal cleavage tear involving the posterior horn of the medial meniscus
• Dating of the findings is indeterminate based on the examination
Claimant was eventually referred to Dr. Burkhart, who noted the Claimant had arthritic changes in her right knee, which he stated were almost certainly the cause of her persistent and continued symptoms. Dr. Burkhart placed the Claimant at MMI as of July 1, 2020, with an impairment rating of 5 percent. He also released the Claimant to return to work on full duty without restrictions. He suggested that the Claimant consider anti-inflammatory medications, as well as a knee brace, to help with her stability and compression. The doctor noted that further treatment would focus on the arthritic changes in the knee.
The Claimant returned to Dr. Burkhart on August 19, 2020. The doctor noted the Claimant’s osteoarthritic changes in the right knee, and based on his review of her prior records, these changes were related to her initial and subsequent work injuries. The doctor noted her current symptoms were 100 percent related to arthritic changes, and these arthritic changes were more likely than not related to her multiple prior surgical interventions to the right knee, which were all work-related.
The doctor recommended a steroid injection, which was performed. Additionally, he recommended that she continue taking anti-inflammatory medications and that the Claimant could continue working full duty without restrictions
The Claimant continued periodic visits on a palliative basis with Dr. Burkhart in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, including undergoing viscosupplementation and injections for her right knee osteoarthritis, post-traumatic.
On June 18, 2025, Dr. Burkhart recommended that, as the Claimant had failed conservative treatment management, she undergo total replacement surgery. Dr. Burkhart indicated that the causal relationship of the need for the Claimant’s knee replacement surgery was 100 percent related to the subject workplace accident.
The approximate cost for total knee replacement surgery is $73,670, and there is the likelihood that, due to the Claimant’s age, she would need another surgery, and possibly a third if there are complications. Additionally, post-surgery, there remains the possibility of referral to pain management, which can also become costly.
As a result, given the estimated claim value, which exceeds the claimant’s initial demand of $187,500, we are requesting approval to settle for $96,150, plus $100 for a general release, for a total of $96,250.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
City staff finds and determines that the settlement of this matter for the sum of $96,250:
• Represents a reasonable, cost-effective settlement of the pending litigation while avoiding additional costs of litigation and the risk of an adverse judgment at trial;
• Does not result in a significant impact on the finances of the City of Ocala, Florida; and
• Is in the best interest of the City of Ocala, Florida, and its citizens.
• Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
As this is an accepted claim, it appears unlikely that the self-insured retention would be reached. The $96,250 all-inclusive settlement would be paid out from the City’s self-insurance fund.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
The settlement resolution has been reviewed and is recommended by Bettina Carrier, the City’s Workers’ Compensation Attorney and City Attorney William E Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
The City would continue to pay benefits under the 2018 date of accident, which could far exceed the cost of the proposed settlement.