Latest news with #Worker'sCompensationAct
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Widow sues Tallahassee for benefits three years after police officer husband's COVID death
A widow has waited almost three and a half years since her husband's death to receive the benefits he earned by protecting Tallahassee. Now to get them, she's having to sue the city. Melissa Crouch filed a lawsuit in Leon Circuit Civil court at the end of January seeking to declare her rights and collect the money she was due after her husband died from COVID-19 while serving as a police officer. She is represented by Vincent Leuzzi, a Maitland-based attorney. Clifford "Cliff" Crouch, 38, died in September 2021 after contracting the virus that rocked the world. The Tallahassee Police Department accepted Clifford's "injury and resulting death as a work-related accident under the Florida's Worker's Compensation Act," according to the complaint. The city said it cannot comment on pending litigation. Florida law says a law enforcement officer's beneficiary "must be paid" a $75,000 death benefit, and Melissa is legally able to receive that amount or more, according to the complaint. Melissa requested the benefits the law says she's entitled to last July and still hasn't received any compensation. Clifford Crouch's death rattled his family and the community. Messages of love, condolences and memories poured out in the wake of his passing. "The tragic loss of Officer Crouch is being felt across this community and the state,' said Police Benevolent Association President Richard Murphy in a statement at the time. 'We will miss him terribly. While losing a brother in blue is never easy, it's always gratifying to see how people come together to support each other and the family of Officer Crouch.' The real estate professional who sold the family their home when they moved to Tallahassee said she bawled when she heard the news. "He really enjoyed being a father and was just a complete gentlemen," said Patty Wilson, a local Realtor and talk show personality. "You could just tell, he was a special human being." Crouch left behind four children, the youngest being 1 year old at the time. Before coming to Florida to work with TPD, the Crouches lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And he brought the Cajun culture with him through his business, Coastal Cajun Cooking, which he owned and operated in his free time. "We pray for peace and healing for the Crouch family, our department and the community as we grieve this loss together," TPD Chief Lawrence Revell said in a statement at the time. Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@ Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Widow sues Tallahassee for TPD officer husband's COVID death benefits
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scholarships open for Louisiana students whose parents suffered workplace injury
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A scholarship for students whose parents died or are permanently and totally disabled due to a workplace injury is accepting applications. Scholarships for Children of Injured Workers Kids Chance Scholarship is currently accepting applications. The program provides scholarships to the children of Louisiana workers who experienced workplace accidents compensable under a state or federal Worker's Compensation Act or law. Interested students must apply by February 14, 2025, and meet basic eligibility requirements. Student artists invited to submit artwork to hang in U.S. Capitol, Speaker Johnson's office LBF Kids Chance Scholarship eligibility requirements: Must be a dependent of a worker killed or permanently and totally disabled in an accident compensable under a state or federal Worker's Compensation Act or law. Must be a Louisiana resident between the ages of 16 and 25. Must maintain a 'C' average or higher. Must demonstrate substantial financial need. Must be pursuing a primary college or university degree (bachelor's or associate's) or vocational education and training (certificate or license) from an accredited Louisiana (*) university, community, technical or vocational college and/or state approved proprietary school. An exception may be made for attendance at an accredited out-of-state institution for extraordinary reasons. Here is the application link to the LBF Kids Scholarship. For more information, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
