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 re...
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