The Kansas City Council voted Thursday to approve a $280,000 settlement with the parents of a 7-year-old boy who was struck and killed by a city fire truck.
The city's settlement is in addition to a $720,000 payment from the insurance company of a moving company that also was involved in the accident that claimed the life of Obarimomoya Nkani in 2009.
"This was a tragedy for everybody involved, and the family is relieved to have been able to reach this agreement with the city and the moving company," said John Kurtz, the plaintiffs' attorney. "The family continues to work through the terrible loss of this child."
The city attorney's office declined to comment on the settlement, which will be paid from the city's legal defense fund. The settlement is not an admission of guilt by the city.
The lawsuit was filed by Hope and Gift Nkani, the parents of Obarimomoya, known affectionately as "Momo." The lawsuit alleged negligence on the part of the city, Father and Son Moving and Storage, the Kansas City School District and Securitas Security Service. The school district and security company were dismissed from the lawsuit.
Obarimomoya was halfway home from school when he reportedly ran into the street and was struck by the fire truck at Euclid Avenue and Ninth Street. The complaint alleged that the driver failed to use the highest level of care. It also alleged that a moving and storage truck blocked the fire truck driver's ability to see the boy.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
