Judge caps Metro Transit bus injury award at $500K under state law
Hennepin County Judge Laura Thomas reduced a jury’s roughly $4.26 million award in favor of Christopher Lee Swickard to $500,000, citing Minnesota’s statutory damages cap on claims against public entities. A jury had found Metro Transit 80% at fault (Swickard 20%) after Swickard, 52, had his left leg amputated below the knee following a February 2023 incident on E. Lake St.; the probationary driver, Said Muse, resigned and argued Swickard caused his own injuries by chasing the bus, and Metro Transit notes warnings against running after buses.
Transit & Infrastructure
Legal
📌 Key Facts
- Hennepin County Judge Laura Thomas reduced the jury award to $500,000, citing Minnesota’s statutory damages cap for public entities.
- A jury had calculated $5.33 million in total damages and apportioned fault 80% to Metro Transit and 20% to the plaintiff, producing a $4.26 million award before the statutory cap was applied.
- The plaintiff is Christopher Lee Swickard, 52, of Bloomington; his left leg was amputated below the knee after a February 2023 incident on E. Lake St. near 3rd Ave. S.
- The bus driver, probationary operator Said Muse, resigned after the incident and argued Swickard caused his own injuries by chasing the bus.
- Metro Transit posts warnings against running after buses on shelters and online.
📰 Sources (2)
Judge slashes jury’s $4M award to man who lost leg after chasing Metro Transit bus
New information:
- Hennepin County Judge Laura Thomas reduced the award to $500,000, citing Minnesota’s statutory damages cap for public entities.
- The jury had calculated $5.33M in total damages and found Metro Transit 80% at fault and the plaintiff 20%, yielding a $4.26M award before the cap.
- Plaintiff identified as Christopher Lee Swickard, 52, of Bloomington; his left leg was amputated below the knee after the Feb. 2023 incident on E. Lake St. near 3rd Ave. S.
- The bus driver, probationary operator Said Muse, resigned after the incident and argued Swickard caused his own injuries by chasing the bus.
- Article notes Metro Transit’s warnings against running after a bus (posted on shelters and online).