Strib Article - Bridge Money

This is the link to the article. http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/43178022.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

The State of Minnesota was able to put a price on critical injuries for a family of four and the death of a man. I think it is possible, from a utilitarian standpoint to dollop out money to victims.

I find it interesting to hear how much people talked about getting money to be happy in the article. I think it ties into the utility of the common good and whatever makes people the happiest.


I think our class discussion really got at a broader topic in the end. We got caught up on the basis for government liability and if that thus initiates a VCF. However it was another good conversation.


The settlement amounts are now public between the state of Minnesota and the victims of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis nearly two years ago.

The 179 settlements come from a special victims fund of nearly $37 million set up by legislators.

The largest amount, more than $2.2 million, went to Paula Coulter, of Savage, and lesser amounts went to three of her family members.

Paula, her husband, Brad, and their two girls were in a minivan that flipped in midair and crashed upside-down in the wreckage of the bridge. All four had broken bones. Paula, the most critically wounded, almost died of a head injury.

A settlement of $1.39 million was made in the death of Patrick Holmes, the highest among the fatality cases.

Holmes, 36, of Mounds View, was heading home after a day of studying neck and back pain as an exercise therapist in Bloomington. An overhead highway sign crashed down on his car's roof, and he died in the wreck.

Thursday was the deadline for offers to be accepted or rejected, but victims had little reason to reject the settlements since state law limited Minnesota's liability for the collapse. Thirteen people were killed and 145 injured in the collapse on Aug. 1, 2007.

Alicia Harris, formerly Babatz, expressed gratitude today for her settlement of $254,500. "I'm very happy with what the state has done," she said. Now 24, she swam to safety after her car fell into the river. "We're very grateful for the state coming up to the plate," she said.

After the accident, she was hospitalized for several days with a back injury and scars. Now Harris, who gave birth to her second child last month, said her physical injuries have largely healed, but "the fears and anxieties are still very prominent."

She said she has no intention of seeing what other victims received.

"Frankly, I don't think it's anybody's business," she said. "I just hope everybody got as much as they could, and hopefully they're moving on with their lives as well."