$38 million deal reached in Minnesota bridge collapse

by amyjudd | May 3, 2008 at 12:27 am | 174 views | add comment

A deal has been reached to compensate victims of the Interstate 35 bridge collapse that killed 13 people in Minneapolis last year.

State Sen. Ron Latz and state Rep. Ryan Winkler told CNN Radio that the deal totals $38 million and will be presented to the Legislature for approval.

Latz said the deal would expedite compensation to victims who chose to take their portion of the settlement and waive their right to sue the state.

The plan addresses a key sticking point in negotiations: preserving a state liability cap on awards to individual victims, Latz said.

Winkler said victims will be able to collect up to $400,000 and people whose damages exceed $400,000 will be able to pull from a supplemental pool of more than $12 million.

"There are a 182 potential claimants out there," Winkler said. "There were 13 dead, and there were 12 catastrophic injury cases."

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he would welcome the deal for survivors and relatives if the Legislature approves it.

"I look forward to signing this legislation into law," Pawlenty said in a statement. "It provides needed relief and support for victims and family members directly impacted by the I-35W bridge tragedy. I'm pleased that Senator Latz, Representative Winkler, my office and others were able to work together to craft this legislation."

The bridge collapsed during afternoon rush hour August 1, sending dozens of cars tumbling into the Mississippi River. Photos of the scene showed cars, trucks and a school bus lingering on the bridge's uneven remnants.