The Japanese international student who was hit by a recycling truck two years ago received $365,000 from Athens County during a settlement Wednesday.
Attorneys for Misato Kawamura and her family negotiated with attorneys for Athens County, Athens-Hocking Joint Solid Waste, and Michael Gilbraith, the truck's driver.
Attorneys for both sides negotiated the amount without going to trial, said Mark Troutman, the lawyer who represents Athens County, Athens-Hocking Joint Solid Waste, the truck's driver and another employee who was working the day of the accident.
They were eager to try to make things right
Troutman said of his clients, adding that although the settlement occurred Wednesday, the lawyers are still working to write the final documents for the case.
The $365,000 will come from the County Risk Sharing Program, a program that provides Ohio counties with liability coverage, Troutman said.
The case is worth far more than that said William Kloss, the Kawamura's lawyer. However, because the case involved a governmental entity, there is a cap
on how much the plaintiff can receive.
Considering the government regulations, Kloss said he is happy with the results of the case.
I think (the defendants) approached this very honorably and did negotiations in good faith he said, adding that the case ended more quickly than he had anticipated.
Kawamura was an exchange student at Ohio University in 2007, when a recycling truck backed into her near the corner of University Terrace and Park Place. Kawamura's leg and pelvis were fractured and she was hospitalized for six weeks in the United States. Kawamura sued the county in March 2009.
She is now living in Japan, and given the nature of her injuries, Kawamura is doing well, Kloss said.
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Gail Burkhardt
