EVERETT — The city of Everett has paid $118,250 to settle a lawsuit with a man who was injured at the Forest Park pool.
Portable stairs collapsed underneath Timothy Roberts in June 2016. Roberts, now 67, alleged that staff failed to set up the steps properly, causing him permanent, disabling injuries.
In court papers, the city acknowledged it was negligent.
Since the injury, the swim center has changed how it deploys the stairs, to make them more stable, said Meghan Pembroke, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office.
“Two staff members work together to secure the stairs and then both team members check the security of both sides,” she said.
Roberts’ attorney, Todd Nichols, said the lawsuit went into mediation, which resulted in an amicable settlement.
A tort claim can serve “not just to compensate individuals for injuries, but to make activities safer for everyone,” he said.
As part of the agreement, Roberts won’t seek further damages and the city did not admit liability.
Roberts initially filed a claim seeking $125,000 in 2016. The lawsuit followed in March 2017. The settlement was signed earlier this summer.
As a result, a Snohomish County judge dismissed the lawsuit in August, canceling an October trial date.
The Daily Herald recently obtained a copy of the settlement under state public records laws.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
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