A lawyer slipped and fell, and Everett’s paying him $75,000

Published 1:30 am Saturday, December 30, 2017

EVERETT — The city of Everett recently agreed to pay $75,000 to a man who slipped and fell on Wetmore Avenue.

H. Scott Holte, 71, is an attorney and arbitrator with an address in town. In 2013, he tripped over a metal utility cover embedded in the sidewalk, according to his lawsuit. The location was near the intersection with Hewitt Avenue. He said he severely injured his left arm and wrist.

Holte in 2014 filed a claim for damages with the city, seeking $350,000, according to public records.

Holte alleged that the city failed to keep the sidewalk safe for pedestrians. The rain made the utility cover slippery, creating an “unpredictable and dangerous” situation, he said in the claim. He followed up with the lawsuit in Snohomish County Superior Court in 2015.

The city denied the allegations in court. A trial had been scheduled for February 2018.

The City Council approved the settlement Dec. 20. As part of the agreement, the city did not admit to any wrongdoing.

The newspaper recently obtained documents related to the settlement under state public records laws. Holte and his attorneys could not be reached for comment. The city also did not provide comment.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.