PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County woman who tripped in the Clallam County Courthouse parking lot in 2015 is now suing the county and two contractors.
In a lawsuit filed in Jefferson County Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 22, Karla Graham asks the court to grant her relief for past and future medical expenses, physical injury, emotional injury and attorney fees.
Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias said late last week he was aware of the incident, but the lawsuit had not yet been reviewed by the commissioners.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols said he was not yet aware of the lawsuit or the incident.
Nichols said that regardless of the subject of a lawsuit, they are first reviewed by the county’s risk manager and the county’s risk pool is notified.
Interim County Administrator Rich Sill, who is the county’s risk manager, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
The lawsuit also names Interwest Construction Inc., Stripe Rite Inc. and “John Does 1-X” as defendants.
In the suit, Graham claims she suffered serious injuries after she tripped on a wheel stop in the courthouse parking lot at about 7 p.m. Nov. 18, 2015.
The lawsuit says the county and two contractors were negligent by not providing proper warnings, proper wheel stops or adequate lighting.
The parking lot had been covered with asphalt and did not have marking for parking and there was inadequate lighting for night visitors, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says wheel stops were not painted or properly placed and there were no warning or directions to users.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at [email protected] dailynews.com.
