04/16/2026
That is fantastic. Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, CLEAT does so much for its members.
📣 TWO Workers' Comp Victories in one week for CLEAT members! 👏
Several years ago, CLEAT retained a workers' compensation consultant who works directly with our members on their claims. This has uncovered issues we’ve been able to resolve through our work with legislators, CLEAT attorneys, and Dr. Jonathan Sheinberg, MD, FACC, the lead cardiologist working with first responders and heart attack presumption research.
Last week, Dr. Sheinberg offered a causation letter for a member whose workers' comp claim was DENIED after he suffered a heart attack ON DUTY while responding to a call. All this despite the heart attack presumption statute that CLEAT, Dr. Sheinberg, and Representative Jared Patterson worked to pass several sessions ago. Upon receipt of the causation letter, the workers' comp claim was ACCEPTED, and the member is working through the process.
Also, last week, CLEAT General Counsel Jane Bishkin and Representative Patterson sent demand letters to the City of Arlington regarding their policies and practices requiring INJURED FIRST RESPONDERS to exhaust their sick leave to attend a doctor's appointment related to the injury. This process circumvents the injury leave legislation we passed during the 88th legislative session and has been a problem for our members injured in the line of duty. We are grateful to report that the City of Arlington responded that they are adjusting this practice and will no longer require officers to utilize their hard-earned sick/vacation days to attend required doctor's appointments tied to their line of duty injuries!
