Local News in Brief : City Council Panel Urges $250,000 Settlement in Traffic Accident

A Los Angeles City Council committee recommended a $250,000 settlement Tuesday for a family that lost two members in a 1982 traffic accident near their West Hills home.

The council’s finance and revenue committee agreed to send the proposed settlement, which had been recommended by the city attorney’s office, to the full council for approval.

Elvey P. Knizek, 48, and his daughter, Alison, 15, were killed in the accident on Sept. 26, 1982, at Platt and March avenues.

Knizek’s wife, Stephanie, arrived at the accident shortly after it happened and saw the condition of her husband and daughter, according to a report outlining the city attorney’s recommendation to settle the case.

At the time of the accident, stop signs at the intersection halted only Platt Avenue traffic, but, three days after the accident, the city moved to install stop signs on March Avenue as well.

The Knizek family later sued the city and the driver of the other car, David P. Gowdy, 16, who was traveling 50 to 90 m.p.h. through a 25-m.p.h. zone on March Avenue, according to the city attorney’s report.

If the City Council approves the $250,000 settlement, the Knizeks would drop their lawsuit. The family already has accepted a $25,000 settlement with Gowdy.

Before the accident, the city had received many requests for four-way stop signs or traffic lights at the intersection, according to the March 25 city attorney’s report.

“A jury could find that the traffic controls at the intersection were a contributory cause, even though the primary cause of the accident was the negligence of David P. Gowdy,” the report said.