FL H6515

On January 17, 2015, Herminio Padilla, Jr., a wastewater plant operator for the City of West Palm Beach, drowned after falling into a sewage basin when an elevated catwalk grate allegedly collapsed.

The Estate of Herminio Padilla, Jr. filed a lawsuit against the City of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, the City of Lake Worth, the City of Riviera Beach, and the Town of Palm Beach, settling for $400,000 on October 17, 2018, with no defendant admitting liability.

The City of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, the City of Lake Worth, the City of Riviera Beach, and the Town of Palm Beach are authorized to appropriate and pay $54,091, $22,727, $11,363.50, $7,273, and $4,545.50, respectively, to Stephen P. Padilla as personal representative of the estate.

Attorney fees from the payment may not exceed $20,000, lobbying fees may not exceed $5,000, and costs or similar expenses may not exceed $5,000.

The payment constitutes sole compensation for all past, present, and future claims arising from Herminio Padilla, Jr.'s death.