L.A. Asked for $75,000 to Settle Accident Suit

The Los Angeles City Council was asked Tuesday to pay half of the $150,000 cost to settle a lawsuit brought by a motorcyclist who was injured in a collision at a North Hollywood intersection that the city had been warned was dangerous.

The city has since reduced the hazard at Bellaire Avenue and Raymer Street, according to a city attorney’s report recommending settlement of the suit filed by Gregory Van Allen. The council was urged Tuesday by its Finance and Revenue Committee to approve the recommendation.

Van Allen, now a 22-year-old North Hollywood resident, was injured Feb. 13, 1982 when the motorcycle he was riding southbound on Bellaire collided with a car traveling east on Raymer.

Van Allen asserted that his view of the car was blocked by “a rise” on Bellaire as it nears Raymer, according to the city attorney’s report. The report says that Van Allen “could not see the intersection until he got to the top of the rise at which time . . . he tried to apply his brakes but could not avoid the collision.”

Warned About Intersection

The report says that the city had been warned by Lockheed employees six months before the accident that the intersection was unsafe. There had been nine accidents at the intersection before the February, 1982 incident, according to the report.

In response to the complaints from the Lockheed workers, many of whom use the route to travel to work, the East Valley district traffic engineer, in January, 1982, recommended that signs be posted warning of the danger, the city attorney’s report said. However, the signs were not installed until May, 1982. No reason was given for the delay. In June, 1982, the city also installed four-way stop signs at the intersection.

Van Allen suffered fractures of all three long bones of his right leg, including a fractured femur, which required surgery for the insertion of a rod. He also was cut and bruised all over his body, the city attorney’s report says. His medical bills, which now total $16,466, are expected to increase by $7,000, the report says.

Lockheed Blamed

The proposed settlement calls for the city and Lockheed each to pay $75,000 to Van Allen. Van Allen’s attorney, Ron Marks, claimed Lockheed was responsible because its employee, who was driving the car involved in the accident, failed to yield the right of way to Van Allen.

At the time of the accident, there was a stop sign on Raymer. The Lockheed employee stopped at the sign, but saw no vehicles approaching and proceeded through the intersection, the report says.

Assistant City Atty. Philip Shiner, in recommending the settlement, said, “In view of (Van Allen’s) injuries, a jury could find that his damages are in the range of $250,000 to $300,000. Additionally, if Lockheed were found to be liable, a jury could find that the city is also responsible for the accident due to the visibility obstruction and the fact that the city had notice because of the prior accident history.”