Seattle pays damages to firefighter hurt in training

The city of Seattle has paid more than $1.7 million to a firefighter injured during a training exercise, ending its fight against a court award in the firefighter's favor.

Kevin Locke, now an emergency dispatcher, was badly hurt when he passed out and fell from a ladder in the training accident in 2000.

His attorneys argued that those running the training were negligent for failing to provide adequate breaks in warm weather, leading to heat stress that caused Locke's accident.

Jurors awarded Locke $1.8 million.

The city fought the judgment. It argued that Locke should not be allowed to sue, since he already received workers' compensation.

And although the state Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System act provides a "right to sue" provision, city lawyers argued it violated the state constitution, which grants sovereign immunity to cities.

However, the state Supreme Court ruled against the city in December, so the payment was made recently by the city and its insurer.

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Information from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, http://www.seattle-pi.com/