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Fla Indian River County, Florida Memorandum TO: Board of County Commissioners THRU: Michael C. Zito, Interim County Administrator Kristin Daniels, Office of Management & Budget Director FROM: Cynthia Stanton, Risk Manager DATE: January 18, 2023 SUBJECT: Workers Compensation Settlement Justin House, Former IRC Deputy Sheriff BRIEF HISTORY OF CLAIMANT AND OF CLAIM: On October 21, 2018, afteronly3 lh months ofemployme� former Sheriff's Deputy, Justin House, was on patrol and engaged in an altercation with a suspect. He was struck in the head m u l t i p l e t i in e s with a p l a s t i c flashlight and subsequently undertook extensive medical care, primarily under the supervisor of a board-certified neurologist, and a board-certified neuropsychologist. Each specialist has found significant objective findings of traumatic brain damage and cognitive disfunction. Despite extensive discovery and investigation, there was no definitive evidence of a pre-existing conditions to terminate benefits. MEDICAL HISTORY: Following the battery with the flashlight, t he employee treated with Psychiatrist, Dr. Fernando Miranda w h o m identified multiple areas evidencing traumatic brain injuries, consistent with the documented cognitive and behavioral deficits. Neuropsychologist, Dr. Whitney Legler, also accepts and believes all subjective complaints and symptoms and has opined that the former employee is incapable of sustaining employment in any capacity. Dr. Miranda had similar opinions on the future employability of Mr. House. EXPOSURE EVALUATION: At the time of mediation, the employee was 39.17 years of age, and has a life expectancy of a n a d d i t i o n a 1 39.45 years. He would be entitled to 3% annual increases on permanent/total supplemental benefits through age 62, or for nearly another 23 years. The former employee would also potentially be entitled to permanent total disability benefits at his compensation rate of $634.81 per week, through the age of 75. W