WARREN — Trumbull County will spend $128,556 more on insurance when it renews its County Risk Sharing Authority policy because its risks have increased over the past year, including the number of lawsuits.
Projected cost of the 2023 policy will be $721,681,which is an 18 percent year-over-year increase. The 2022 policy was $593,125, which was an increase from the $552,269 paid in 2021 and the $557,425 paid in 2020.
The 2023 costs include $249,329 for its property premium, $78,142 for its automobile premium and $394,210 for liability premium. Commissioners are expected to vote on the 2023-24 CORSA contract during today’s public meeting.
Trumbull County Human Resources Director Alexandra Devengencie-Bush said during Tuesday’s commissioner workshop that at least 10 percent of the increased costs are the same as every other county that obtains their insurance from CORSA.
Devengencie-Bush explained factors causing the increase include the county being involved in 26 lawsuits, including claims filed in connection with an accident that occurred at the Newton Falls Bridge; 30 vehicle insurance claims; $16 million in property value; nine inmate claims, which were valued at $1,000 per inmate; and the addition of four deputies in the sheriff’s department.
She said some of the risks that increased costs are manageable, including working on ways to decrease the number of automobile and property accidents, and decreasing the number of lawsuits involving the county.
In 2021 and 2022, Trumbull filed 192 CORSA claims. The majority of those claims, 38.83 percent, were filed by the sheriff’s office; 24.99 percent from the engineer’s office; 15.51 percent from the commissioners’ office; and 10.81 percent from the courts.
“Some of these claims are from automobile and property claims, which, because of the number of vehicles owned by the county and its various departments, can be expected,” she said. “We become concerned at the number of risk claims coming from lawsuits.”
Devengencie-Bush said department heads can mitigate some of the claims by having employees take driver’s education courses and workplace safety classes.
“They can arrange classes teaching staff members how to get along,” she said. “They can reduce the number of lawsuits being filed.”
There were 34 lawsuits filed involving the county, including two that were filed in the past week. One of the latest lawsuits was filed in federal court by Commissioner Niki Frenchko against Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa, former Commissioner Frank Fuda, Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe and others stating they colluded in having her handcuffed and arrested during a July 7 county commissioners meeting.
Several lawsuits have been filed against Frenchko and former commissioner Frank Fuda by current and former employees. Devengencie-Bush emphasized during Tuesday’s commissioner workshop that if the county does not reduce the number of claims, the insurance provider may choose to no longer provide services to it.
“That is something to worry about,” she said.
CORSA provides insurance coverages to 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
Frenchko said she cannot comment on lawsuits, however, she appreciates that Devengencie-Bush is expressing concern about risk management.
Cantalamessa said the increase the county will have to pay is alarming, especially compared to what the county paid in the last three years.
“We need a concerted effort to reduce our risks,” Cantalamessa said. “We need buy-in by our elected officials to work together and be more responsible. Especially as far as the rush to litigation is concerned. Unfortunately, this has become a disturbing trend.”
Commissioner President Denny Malloy said one of the commissioners needs to learn to behave and stop filing and being involved in lawsuits.
“I do worry about that,” Malloy said. “Actions by any board member could result in price increases.”
Malloy is thankful CORSA did not drop the county.
“This was a shot across the bow,” he said. “Its a warning that we have to get our house in order. It is not only the commissioner’s office, but the sheriff and all other county departments.”
“Doing those things necessary to reduce our risks is being responsible with the money that taxpayers are providing us,” he continued.
“Keeping our costs down in the county is similar to what each of us must do in our own households.”
