FRESNO – The city of Fresno is seeking the amount of workers' compensation benefits it paid to an employee after a collision with an allegedly negligent driver.
City of Fresno filed a complaint on May 22 in the Fresno County Superior Court against Lawrence Rendill Pitts, Andea Jiporn Smalley and Does 1-5, alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 16, 2016,Pitts was driving a Volkswagen owned by Smalley when he made an unsafe left hand turn onto Bullard Avenue, eventually colliding with John David Thompson, who was in the course and scope of his employment with the plaintiff. As a result of the injuries sustained by Thompson, plaintiff was obligated to pay, pursuant to the Worker's Compensation Act, $59,449.76 in benefits to Thompson.
The plaintiff seeks payment for the workers' compensation benefits paid on behalf of Thompson, costs of suit incurred, attorneys' fees, and for such other and further relief as the court may deems just and proper. It is represented by Deputy City Attorney Kenneth J. Jorgensen and City Attorney. Douglas T. Sloan.
Fresno County Superior Court case number 17CECG01748