A man injured by a falling part of a street lamp will receive a settlement of up to $21 million from the city of Los Angeles.
In November 2020, Ismael Soto Luna was at the corner of Roscoe Street and Noble Street in Van Nuys when his head struck the 2-pound metal shade of a streetlight, causing him to fall to the ground, according to his lawsuit against the city. .
The impact fractured his skull, and three months later he was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, the suit said. His condition gradually worsened, and in 2023 he was diagnosed with dementia, according to the lawsuit.
City regulations require that a street lamp shade be secured in place so that the regular forces of nature do not cause it to loosen and fall, the lawsuit said.
Ivor Payne, a spokesman for the city attorney's office, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The City Council approved the settlement on Friday.
The Council also approved other settlements with a total value of more than $40 million.
A man who claimed an LAPD officer in a department vehicle hit him while crossing the street in downtown Los Angeles will receive $15.25 million.
A lawsuit in which a man allegedly suffered serious injuries after his scooter wheel got stuck in uneven ground at a crosswalk in Westwood will be settled for $1.9 million.
