The city of Florissant and former police officer Julian Alcala have agreed to pay $4 million to 24 victims who said Alcala searched their phones without permission during traffic stops. According to the press release, that figure represents the full amount of insurance coverage Florissant had purchased, meaning it was all the money available to the plaintiffs.
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A worker who alleged he was assaulted by a co-employee reached a $6.5 million settlement, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys.
J.C. Pleban of Pleban & Associates said the assault occurred in a vacant area of the facility where the plaintiff and the co-worker worked. The facts and liability were disputed, they said.
Generally, on-the-job injuries are handled through the workers’ compensation system. However, Missouri law allows suits against co-employees who “engaged in an affirmative negligent act that purposefully and dangerously caused or increased the risk of injury.”
In a 2021 opinion, the Missouri Supreme Court interpreted the statute as permitting only cases involving “deliberate and deviant actions” by a co-worker who is intentionally increasing the risk of injury.
The Community Fire Protection District in St. Louis County has reached a $1 million settlement agreement with Cindy Schuenke, a firefighter who was fired following a severe injury sustained in the line of duty. Schuenke was gravely injured, including significant injuries to her hands, while attempting to save a 76-year-old from a burning house in Vinita Terrace in 2006. Unable to perform her duties as a firefighter, she was terminated three years later.
Schuenke’s attorney, J.C. Pleban, argued that the union contract at the time promised to pay firefighters injured on the job until they could return to work. The two sides released a joint statement indicating that they have reached an amicable and voluntary agreement and are satisfied with the terms. Schuenke expressed relief at the conclusion of the lengthy legal battle.
J.C. Pleban litigated an insurance carrier’s bad faith coverage decision and got a nearly $5 million settlement for his client. The carrier denied coverage, leaving its insured significantly exposed. J.C. got an arbitration award against the insured. The insured then assigned its right to file a lawsuit against the carrier. After litigating with the insurance carrier—arguing over whether the carrier improperly denied coverage—the parties agreed to a settlement.
