Pine Bluff Appeals Ice Storm Ruling
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
The city of Pine Bluff is asking a federal
appeals court to reconsider a ruling forcing the city to pay for
losses an insurer sustained after a December 2000 ice storm.
The city wants the full court to consider the case. The earlier
decision was made by a three-judge panel.
The three-judge panel of the U-S Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
held that the city did not have immunity from being sued by
Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company in 2001. It
could cost Pine Bluff more than 800-thousand dollars if the
decision stands.
Officials say the city is facing budget trouble and doesn`t have
the money to satisfy the judgment.
In the current appeal, Pine Bluff argued that the Arkansas
Legislature had given cities immunity to prevent taxpayers from
being forced to pay damage claims based on the wrongful conduct of
city employees.
Posted by Mike Hellgren
