posted on March 20, 2009

Icy falls cost city millions in legal bills

$30M spent on lawsuits between 2003 and 2008

By: NICOLE BAUTE
Published: March 16, 2009
Source: The Star

Lawsuits springing from slip-and-fall incidents on icy city sidewalks between 2003 and 2008 are estimated to cost the city more than $30 million after all the bills are paid.

According to the city's website, 2008 alone should cost the city close to $5.5 million in settlements and legal fees due to sidewalk slip-and-fall claims.

There were 533 such claims that year, which had a particularly harsh winter, compared to 368 the year before.

In January, the city refused to release the slip-and-fall figures to the Star, saying they would encourage more people to sue following such incidents.

After filing a freedom of information request, the Star was informed this month that the numbers were put up on the city's website in a February report.

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