State’s small claims
at $291,000The bill includes $211 that the
state paid for a pregnant dog
The state paid $211 to a woman whose dog got pregnant while at the Animal Quarantine Station and $7,900 to settle a lawsuit filed by a McKinley High School student because the school's code of honor includes the phrase "Love for God."
The money is part of more than $291,000 the state paid for claims and lawsuit settlements of $10,000 or less between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2003.
The owner of the dog claimed her pet was impregnated during an unsupervised social period with other dogs in July 2001, resulting in the birth of four puppies and related expenses.
The $7,900 is part of a settlement announced a year ago that included removing the McKinley High School Code of Honor from school handbooks, classroom posters, its Web site and future ceremonies.
Only a 1927 plaque with the code remains on display among school artifacts in the school's Hall of Honor, under the settlement. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit in July 2002 on behalf of James Ornellas.
The highest number of claims were paid to people who said their vehicles were damaged by rocks thrown by weed cutters and lawn mowers operated by state workers. The state paid $18,881 for 43 such claims. The payouts range from $104 to $1,733.
The state also paid $8,293 to people who claimed their cars were damaged by potholes or poor road conditions. Fifteen people said their vehicles were damaged by potholes. Six others said their cars were damaged by road debris, expansion joints and a drainage grate.
The state also paid $1,000 each to 31 female inmates at Maui Community Correctional Center to settle a lawsuit filed by one of them who said her civil rights were violated in December 1997 in connection with physical searches conducted at the facility.
