Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool filed case without notifying city
Texas Border Business
Mission, TX- The City of Mission has just been made aware of a lawsuit that has been filed by the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) against Mission firefighter Homer Salinas.
The city was not notified in advance and was not made aware of TMLIRP’s intentions to file the suit on behalf of the City of Mission. Although the lawsuit states, “City of Mission, Self-Insurer vs. Homer Salinas,” the city never instructed TMLIRP to file the appeal case.
“I have always been a pro employee person and my position has always been that we need to back up Homer,” Mayor Armando O’Caña said. “I don’t understand how TMLIRP could file this lawsuit and make us a joint party, but we will continue to stand by our firefighter.”
The appeal case is requesting a judicial review of the final decision of the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation. It does not seek repayment of any benefits Salinas has already received. Last month, the Division of Workers’ Compensation reaffirmed its support of firefighter Salinas in his quest to receive insurance coverage for his cancer treatment after an appeals panel sided with him over the city’s insurance carrier who denied him worker’s compensation. After the final decision, TMLIRP was ordered to pay Salinas his full benefits.
Mayor O’Caña and the Mission City Council are exploring all options available to rectify the situation.
“While the City self-insures through the TMLIRP under an interlocal cooperation with other political subdivisions, and they have the discretion to sue in our name, we were not aware that they would go in this direction and we had absolutely no advance notice of their decision,” Interim City Manager Randy Perez said. “Clearly we are disappointed and we are looking at every option at our disposal to make this right for Homer.”
