Included among the most expensive lawsuits and claims paid by the City of San Diego in the first half of 2011:
- $1.8 million to settle a wrongful-death suit brought by the family of a 58-year-old motorcyclist who was killed in April 2009. The family claimed the city failed to install signage or a traffic signal despite repeated accidents at the location.
- $982,450 for legal fees of five former city officials targeted by the Securities and Exchange Commission during the era of pension-related investigations. The officials are Michael Uberuaga, Mary Vattimo, Ed Ryan, Patricia Frazier and Terri Webster.
- $936,131 in fees to lawyer Charles LiMandri, who represented four San Diego firefighters who sued the city because they were forced to march in the Gay Pride Parade. A jury awarded the plaintiffs just $34,300.
- $448,000 to resident Lawrence Fournier to settle a property damage claim for a sewer backup in Fournier’s home.
- $375,000 to Alton Crowley, who was struck by a police cruiser while walking in a crosswalk.
- $285,000 to residents John Trunkey and Greg Bishop for water-related property damage in 2006.
- $225,000 to the family of 17-year-old Noe Rojas, who was fatally shot by police in 2007.
