City faces two negligence suits
Published 8:46 pm Thursday, June 27, 2013
A man who says he was injured when a fishing dock at Bennett’s Creek Park collapsed has sued the city for $500,000.
Glenn Gonsalves says he suffered “significant injuries” after the dock he was standing on collapsed on June 19, 2011. His lawsuit was filed last week.
“As the owner of said dock, to which the general public is invited, defendant, its agents and employees had a duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition,” the court document says.
The lawsuit goes on to accuse the city of being guilty of “gross, willful and wanton neglect and negligence.” Gonsalves continues to suffer “severe physical pain and mental anguish” due to the incident, according to the lawsuit.
The city has not yet been served with notice of the suit.
In a separate lawsuit, filed last month, a woman is asking for $21,500 after she says she suffered “serious and permanent” injuries in a motor vehicle crash with someone driving a city car.
The crash happened Oct. 14, 2010, on Townpoint Road with a 2007 GMC pickup allegedly driven by Jamie L. Durden. Delores L. Thornton’s vehicle was struck on the driver’s side, the lawsuit says.
In a response, the city admitted Durden had been operating a city vehicle that day and admitted Thornthon also had been operating a vehicle in the general vicinity of the crash. All other allegations were denied.
The plaintiff failed to state a claim for which she could obtain relief, the city’s response claimed. The city also noted it may be covered under immunity.
A jury trial is set on Thornton’s suit for March 19, 2014.
City Chief of Staff Debbie George said the city does not comment on pending litigation.