Simi Valley Settles Lawsuit With Man Hurt by Off-Course Skydiver

The city of Simi Valley has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a retired mechanic who was injured when a skydiver veered off course during a city-sponsored event and landed on top of him, the victim’s attorney said Wednesday.

Also part of the settlement agreement are co-defendants John Perrin, the skydiver who crashed into Ronald Bohle, and Ted Barba, another one of the skydivers, said Newport Beach attorney Ryan Harris.

Harris said that the amount of the settlement was confidential, but that it would cover Bohle’s medical expenses and attorney’s fees.

“Mr. Bohle was not trying to win the lottery or get rich,” Harris said. “We accomplished what we set out to do, to have his medical bills taken care of and have his attorney’s fees paid.”

Simi Valley City Atty. David Hirsch declined to comment until an agreement was signed.

Bohle, 53, was attending a street fair on Tapo Street in Simi Valley in May 2002 when a skydiver hired to parachute into an adjacent event went off course, according to the lawsuit.