CITY HALL — A City Council committee will again consider paying a motorcyclist who was struck by a Chicago Police SUV driven by an officer who is now the department's second-highest ranking official $250,000.
City attorneys have recommended settling the lawsuit brought by Carlos Russian, who was a 26-year-old bartender driving a Suzuki GSX-R 750 just before 2 a.m. Aug. 30, 2011.
Russian crossed paths with Officer Kevin Navarro, now the Police Department's first deputy superintendent, when the officer was called to investigate reports of drag racing on South Chicago Avenue near 85th Street.
In a lawsuit against the city and Navarro, Russian alleged that he crashed into the Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Navarro when the officer made a U-turn and headed north in the southbound lanes on South Chicago Avenue without emergency lights or sirens activated.
Russian was catapulted 30 feet by the force of the impact and was seriously injured, according to his lawsuit.
The suit accuses Navarro of acting negligently, and claims he was poorly trained by the city.
A vote on the settlement was postponed in February when aldermen asked for more information.
Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Law Department, said he could not comment on the proposed settlement before Tuesday's meeting at City Hall.
The full Council could approve the settlement Wednesday.
Navarro is expected to take over the Police Department when Supt. Eddie Johnson goes on leave for a kidney transplant when an organ becomes available.
