Council approves $75,000 workers' compensation settlement for city plumbing inspector
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Summary
Portland City Council approved a $75,000 global settlement that ends benefits and results in separation from city employment for a plumbing inspector with recurrent symptoms from a 2016 workplace exposure.
Portland City Council on Thursday approved a proposed settlement of workers’ compensation claims for Robin Sheffer, a plumbing inspector formerly with the Bureau of Development Services. Chief Deputy City Attorney Lynn Vu and Susan (Sue) Quinones, manager of the city’s workers’ compensation program, presented the proposed global settlement to council.
Vu told council Sheffer had two claims, the first stemming from a May 2016 exposure that was accepted and processed by risk management; Sheffer returned to regular work for about four years. In September 2022 she experienced a recurrence of symptoms; medical experts disagreed whether the recurrence reflected a new discrete injury or a progression of the earlier condition. Vu said Sheffer has not improved and remains off work on time-loss benefits. The parties mediated the dispute with an administrative law judge from the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board and negotiated a global settlement.
Under the settlement presented to council, Sheffer would separate from city employment and receive a global payment of $75,000; in exchange the parties would release remaining claim rights and no further benefits would be paid. Quinones, the city’s workers’ compensation manager, confirmed the city’s recommendation to settle. No members of the public signed up to testify on the item.
Council approved the settlement by roll call. The ordinance passed with 12 aye votes.
