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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-93-0644J-93-656 10/4/93 112 RESOLUTION NO. 93-- 644 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT, WITHOUT ANY ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, TO PLAINTIFFS, JUAN FRAIZ AND CITA FRAIZ, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, THE DEFENDANT, IN CASE NO. 92-13697 (CA 32), PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $75,000.00; AND SHOULD SAID OFFER BE ACCEPTED, AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY THE RESULTING JUDGMENT WITH FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI'S SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND. WHEREAS, JUAN FRAIZ and CITA FRAIZ, through their attorney, have filed a claim and lawsuit against the CITY OF MIAMI, in the Circuit Court of Dade County, Florida, Case No. 92-13697 (CA 32), for negligence arising out of a trip and fall accident involving a City of Miami sidewalk, on February 16, 1990, at or near West Flagler Street and Southwest 14th Avenue, in Miami, Dade County, Florida; and WHEREAS, the above claim and lawsuit has been investigated by the Tort Committee of the City Attorney's Office and the Department of Risk Management pursuant to Ordinance No. 8417, which created the City of Miami's Self -Insurance and Insurance Trust Fund; and WHEREAS, said Offices recommend that an Offer of Judgment, without any admission of liability, in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00, be filed in this lawsuit; CITY CCMMSS10I1 MEETING or 0 OT 14 1993 Resolution No. 93- 644 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings set forth in the Preamble to this Resolution are hereby adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The City Attorney is hereby authorized to file an Offer of Judgment, without any admission of liability, to plaintiffs, JUAN FRAIZ and CITA FRAIZ, on behalf of the CITY OF MIAMI, the defendant, in Case No. 92-13697 (CA 32), pending in the Circuit Court of Dade County, Florida, in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00, which offer shall be inclusive of all costs and attorney's fees accrued through the date of the offer. Section 3. Should said Offer of Judgment be accepted, the Director of Finance is herebyauthorized to pay the resulting judgment with funds from the City of Miami's Self -Insurance and i Insurance Trust Fund. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of October 1993. XA ER SUARE , MAYOR ATTE T: MATft HIRAI CITY CLERK -2- 93- 614 SELF -INS N4--. SUJAN CH DEPARTMH TRUST FUND REVIEW: RA, IRECTOR OF RI BUDGETARY REVIEW: MANOHAR S. SURAN ASSISTANT CITY M VAGER f PREPAR AND APPROVED BY: DAVID Z. NE ASSISTA ITY ATTORNEY APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: 1 A: QUTMN JON S, I I I CITY ATTORN Y DZS/sls/bss/M3837 -3- 93` t44 CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City commission FROM : A. tinn7o es, IICityey Q J-93-6` DATE October 4, 1993 ^Lr: L-92-1( SUBJECT Juan and Cita Fretiz vs. City Case No. 92- 1369") CA 32 REFERENCkS : City Commission Agenda October 14, 15193 ENCLOSURES: ( 1 ) The attached proposed Resolution is being submitted for formal approval during the City Commission_ meeting of October 14, 1993. This Resolution seeks Commission approval to file an "Offer of Judgment" in tho amount of $75,000.00 in the above -referenced case. This case involves a trip and fall incident on a City sidewalk in the vicinity of Southwest 14th Avenue. Due to the nature of the defect in the sidewalk (i.e., sidewalk flag uplifted approximately two and one half inches) and the length of time the defect was present, the City's liability i.n this case is extensive. The 70-year old plaintiff's medical bills excefed $150,000.00. In addition, he has lost partial use of his right hand and his wife is also asserting a loss of consortium claim. This claim has been investigated by the Department of Risk Management and evaluated by the Tort Committee of the Law Department and it is agreed that the Offer of Judgment is in the best interest of the City. AQJ/DZS/516/M651(2) attachment cc: Cesar H. Odio, City Manager Attn.: Aurelio Perez-Lugones Legislative Administrator 93- 644