StarBulletin.com

City loses arbitration hearing


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POSTED: Saturday, May 16, 2009

A man who was hit by a city vehicle while crossing a street in Waianae won a $380,000 settlement this week during arbitration.

Dennis D. Wilson sued the city and the employee driving the vehicle after he lost his spleen and fractured his upper leg in the November 2007 accident.

According to court documents, Wilson was in a crosswalk on Farrington Highway near Princess Kahanu Avenue when a vehicle driven by Department of Environmental Services employee Herman R. Ellis struck him. City spokesman Bill Brennan said Ellis, who is still employed with the city, was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Documents filed by the city say Ellis was on the inside lane of Farrington Highway when an outer vehicle suddenly stopped, and Ellis could not avoid Wilson. The city says Wilson was not in a crosswalk.

The City Council has to approve the settlement.