COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The city of Columbus is paying $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit claiming that large potholes on a city street contributed to a crash that left a bicyclist paralyzed.
The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/RZClNj ) reports that the Tuesday decision by city council puts cities across the state on notice that they can be held liable for streets in disrepair.
W. Justin Crabtree had sued the city, saying potholes on a street in south Columbus were a factor in his bicycle crash with a car in January 2006. Crabtree, who was left a quadriplegic, claimed he wasn't able to avoid a passing car because of large potholes in his path.
Crabtree lost in common pleas court, but a state appeals court sent the case back. A mediator suggested the settlement.
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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
