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Appeals court overturns nearly $10 million award to disabled former officer - Business Insurance Skip to content Register for free Search Search Log In Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2025 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Appeals court overturns nearly $10 million award to disabled former officer by Louise Esola Claims Disputes , Workers Comp Coverage , Workplace Safety Jul 24, 2026 A Florida appeals court on Wednesday overturned a nearly $10 million judgment awarded to a former police officer and his family, ruling that the City of Lake Worth complied with a settlement requiring it to pay for the officer’s medical, dental and vision insurance. In City of Lake Worth v. Viera , the 4th District Court of Appeal said the trial court should have granted summary judgment to the city rather than allowing a jury to interpret the settlement agreement. Joseph Viera was injured in the line of duty in December 2000, about six months after joining the Lake Worth Police Department. The city approved his disability retirement in 2001, and a 2008 workers compensation settlement recognized that he was permanently and totally disabled while preserving any future obligations the city had under a Florida law providing health insurance benefits to qualifying public safety officers. After further litigation over those benefits, the parties entered into a 2018 settlement. The city agreed to pay $75,000 for past medical expenses and to provide health insurance benefits offered to eligible employees and retirees. The agreement specifically identified medical, dental and vision coverage, while separately stating that Mr. Viera’s existing life insurance would continue under its prior terms. Mr. Viera and his family later selected medical, prescription, dental, vision, life and supplemental policies during the city’s open enrollment. The city paid for the medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage but declined to pay for life insurance and other supplemental products. The family sued, arguing that the settlement required the city to provide benefits equal to or greater than those available to certain city officials, including life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage and other supplemental policies. A jury found that the city breached the agreement and awarded about $7.17 million in damages. With prejudgment interest, the trial court entered a judgment totaling approximately $9.97 million. The appeals court said the disagreement concerned the legal meaning of the written agreement, not disputed facts that should have been decided by a jury. Reading the agreement as a whole, the court found that the city was obligated to pay only for medical, dental and vision insurance. The separate provision addressing Mr. Viera’s existing life insurance supported the conclusion that life and supplemental policies were not included in the city’s payment obligations. Because there was no dispute that the city provided the required medical, dental and vision benefits, it did not breach the agreement, the court said. Related News Fine wine aged in mold? 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