Royal Oak trip-and-fall lawsuit settles for $49K

ROYAL OAK (AP) -- Royal Oak has agreed to pay a woman who broke her foot after tripping on a residential sidewalk while carrying her infant granddaughter more than $49,000. The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak says terms of the settlement do not require the city about 10 miles north-northwest of Detroit to admit fault, but says the payment is being made "to preserve good will, avoid continued litigation and make financial compromise." An Oakland County Circuit Court lawsuit filed by 79-year-old Margaret Malinasky of Royal Oak says she tripped on a raised portion of sidewalk in July 2007, breaking two toes and displacing four others. The suit claims the city was negligent in maintaining a public sidewalk. The city claimed governmental immunity. A case evaluation panel previously awarded Malinasky $83,000. Published: Wed, Feb 9, 2011