A car wreck involving Denver’s director of public safety will cost the city $32,500 if a proposed settlement is approved Monday.
The Denver City Council is poised to approve the settlement to resolve a claim alleging Safety Manager Al LaCabe caused injuries March 16, 2007, when the car he was driving collided with a truck while exiting the police parking garage.
As safety manager, LaCabe oversees the Denver Police, Fire and Sheriff’s departments and Denver jails.
LaCabe did not return telephone messages seeking comment.
A notice of claim filed on behalf of Mike Gonzales of the 100 block of East Delta Street contended that LaCabe failed to yield the right of way while exiting the police garage. Gonzales, a cable installer, was on light duty at the time of the accident and delivering documents to the Police Department.
The claim said LaCabe’s vehicle struck the rear passenger side of Gonzales’ truck.
The notice of claim, which sought $150,000 in damages, said Gonzales suffered injuries to his back, neck and shoulders as well as loss of wages and earning capacity, medical expenses and property damage.
“The parties believed they reached a fair resolution on all claims in this case,” said Luis Corchado, an assistant director of litigation in the city attorney’s office.
Gonzales’ attorney, Andrew Goertzel, said the city was liable because LaCabe was on duty at the time of the accident.
The council also will consider paying $15,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by Michael Fleming, who claimed Denver sheriff’s deputies injured him in June 2006 by dumping him out of a wheelchair during a transfer.
