Attorney Says She Was Fired for Blocking Officer's WC Claim

Thursday, April 11, 2019 | 0

In many cases around the country, municipalities — conscious of taxpayer expenses — are often seen as the ones denying workers' compensation claims from first responders.

But in Waterbury, Connecticut, an attorney for the city alleges that she was pressured to accept a police officer's claim that his 2017 heart attack was work-related, despite little evidence to support it. When she refused, she was fired, former city workers' comp attorney Donna Convicer said in a complaint filed with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

“Why would they do it, if it would cost the city money?” Convicer said, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune. Convicer said that allowing the claim would have cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation payouts. “It remains a mystery to me on why it happened.”

Officials with the city corporation counsel's office, which oversees workers' compensation, said Convicer had been insubordinate, had made false statements and had undermined the counsel in other ways, the law journal reported.

The claim at the heart of the trouble came from police Officer Stephen Monnerat, who suffered a possible heart attack in 2009 while chasing a suspect. He had two other incidents in 2013 and 2017. Medical tests showed some indicators associated with heart attacks, but not enough evidence to support a workers' comp claim, according to Convicer, who said she spoke with the adjuster for the company that administers the insurance for the city.

Convicer has asked for $50,000 and a statement from the city indicating the employment separation was mutual. A fact-finding hearing is set for May 15. The Monnerat claim is still pending, a city official told the law journal.