Paterson settles 23 claims dealing with improper towing, accidents involving city vehicles
By Jayed Rahman
Published: July 30, 2015
City officials settled 23 claims against the municipality mostly dealing with improper towing and accidents involving city vehicles.
Council members approved $11,549 on Tuesday evening to settle the claims. The largest pay out went to Donald Ginn, whose vehicle was struck by a police officer, on January 2nd, 2015. He was legally parked when a police officer backed into his vehicle.
Ginn’s claim was settled for $1,378, according to city records.
The second largest claim of $1,000 was paid out to Nelson Mercado. His vehicle was struck by a police car on Marion and Laurel Streets on October 18th, 2014, according to city records.
And the third largest claim was also for $1,000 paid out to Victoria Johnson. Her car was parked on Van Blarcom when a public works snow plow side swiped it, according to city records.
Majority of the cases involved public works vehicles and improper towing by police. Council members expressed concern over large number of vehicles being improperly towed which results in the city having to reimburse the vehicle’s owner for towing expenses.
Other council members called for better training for public works employees during last week’s workshop session.
The rest of the cases are as follows:
• Lan Chau, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $888
• Zuerron Cannon, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $750.
• Delvis Valdez, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $750.
• Pepe Mercado, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $731.
• Carol E. Cueto, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $640.
• Charles Harmon, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $500.
• Lorenza Martinez, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $500.
• Nafize Civi, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $500.
• Sergio Santizo, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $500.
• Dominga Then, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $500.
• Wanda Phillips, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $476
• Jasmin Godbolt, improper towing, paid out $442.
• Myshun Bullock, police pulled over vehicle, paid out $175.
• Ivonne Rondon, improper towing, paid out $132.
• Fouad Fam, improper towing, paid out $130
• Dee Dee Smith, improper towing, paid out $130
• Sergey Grozney, vehicle struck by public works truck, paid out $100
• Louis Mechanic, improper towing, paid out $130.
• Erika Tlatelpa, improper towing, paid out $125.
• Caliesha McQueen, city ambulance struck her vehicle, $45.
Council members settled the cases during Tuesday evening’s deliberations.