NYC’s Personal-Injury Payouts Rose in Fiscal Year 2008

New York City paid $403 million to settle personal-injury lawsuits in Fiscal Year 2008 — a 6 percent spike over the previous year.

The top settlement was $8.5 million to Rodrigo Villaseca (Vee-ya-SAY-ca), a school guidance counselor in the Bronx. He lost vision in one eye when an emotionally disturbed child slammed a broken door in his face.

The second-highest payout was $7.2 million to Correction Officer Judy Jones, who shot herself and became a quadriplegic after the department gave her a gun despite a history of mental illness.

___

Information from: New York Post