Pothole, faulty crosswalk claims cost city $500K to 2 injured women

A bicyclist was hurt after she hit a pothole, and another woman says she was hit by a driver in a crosswalk whose pedestrian-activated lights didn't work properly.


Pothole, faulty crosswalk claims cost city $500K to 2 injured women + ' Main Photo'

San Diego is paying out $500,000 to settle two lawsuits resulting from injuries to a pedestrian in Pacific Beach and a bicyclist in Point Loma Heights.

The City Council is scheduled to give the settlements final approval Tuesday. The council previously approved both deals in closed sessions this fall.

The city is paying out $400,000 to Rema Alameddin for injuries she suffered when she was struck by a driver while crossing the street on Mission Boulevard at Thomas Street in January 2019.

In her lawsuit, Alameddin argued that the intersections pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalk beacon was not operating properly at the time of the collision.

Before an agreement on a settlement was reached last month, Superior Court Judge James Mangione had scheduled an Oct. 18 jury trial in the case.

The city is paying out $100,000 to Mary Garland for injuries she suffered when Garland struck a pothole at Capistrano Street and Macauley Street while riding her bicycle.

In her lawsuit, Garland says she fell from the bike and struck her left thumb, right leg and right thigh on the ground. She also says the fall exacerbated an underlying back condition.

Before an agreement on a settlement was reached last month, Superior Court Judge Robert Longstreth had scheduled a Nov. 15 jury trial in the case.