Supervisors Vote for Settlement in Icy Sidewalk Suit
According to this article, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors have voted to offer a $100,000 settlement in a suit that asked for more than $300,000 after a man sustained injuries when he fell on an icy sidewalk outside a county court in 2005. Some of the Supervisors, including board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly opposed offering the settlement indicating that according to attorneys, Virginia law protects the county from such suits.
Connolly argued that the county was being penalized for trying to remain open in inclement whether and that the government would have had a clearer case if the sidewalk, which had been shoveled and salted, had been left untreated.
By Focus on Fairfax |
January 14, 2008; 10:22 AM ET
| Category:
Government
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Sweet. Don't you just love it when our tax dollars go to morons who fall and then blame others, instead of going to education, transportation, or other important budget programs? I just love paying for someone else's ineptitude.
/sarcasm
Posted by: Ineluki | January 14, 2008 12:25 PM
lneluki- I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you haven't been following this and aren't aware of the full story. The individual that fell broke 8 ribs and re-injured a rotator cup that had been repaired in surgery less than two months before. The sidewalks were not properly cleaned after a snow/ice storm and the lack of cleaning was negligent. In the case of negligence, it is the responsible thing for a corporation or government to assist the injured person and, in fact, the settlement amount was proposed by a mediator as an appropriate amount. What if it had been you or a family member of yours that fell? Wouldn't you want help with your or your family member's medical bills and compensation for temporary being unable to work? Or would you blame your family member as one of the "morons who fall and then blame others". When someone falls, they should not be labeled as a moron, it's an accident. When the accident was caused by negligence, then the party that was negligent should pay.
Posted by: mdixey | January 14, 2008 1:11 PM
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