From Deseret News archives:

Court affirms damages in 1985 mower accident

Published: Monday, Aug. 8, 2005 10:41 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An appeals court has affirmed a verdict awarding $1.18 million in damages from the LDS Church for a mowing accident 20 years ago in which a boy lost part of his foot.

Lamoni Riordan, who was 5 at the time, was injured in April 1985. A riding mower driven by his father, Ken Riordan — who worked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — backed over his foot. The accident happened at a church in Kansas City.

The younger Riordan filed suit against the church in 2002, claiming that as his father's employer it was liable. He also accused the church of negligence in maintaining the mower and in training and supervising its employees.

The church contended that the father's parental immunity from the lawsuit by his son also shielded it from liability. Parental immunity has since been eliminated by the Missouri Supreme Court, but it continues to apply to events taking place before Dec. 19, 1991.

A seven-member federal jury had awarded the damages in February 2004. The verdict granted Riordan $420,000 for pain and suffering, nearly $81,000 for past medical expenses and nearly $683,000 for future medical expenses.

The damage award was upheld Friday by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Story continues below
Victor Bergman, a Kansas City attorney who represented Riordan, said the church had agreed to pay medical expenses for the first 15 years or so after the accident. He said Riordan sued after the payments stopped and the parties couldn't reach a settlement.

"It was a straightforward case of negligence, and we never really understood why they didn't see it that way," Bergman said.

Mark Arnold, a St. Louis attorney who represented the church on the appeal, said Monday that he could not comment on the ruling.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

So are you saying that women's soccor should evolve into this type of...

The Church has never been about hating gays, or any other group. It has only...

Hatch empathizes with Muslims

To which I add Amen, and Amen! [Thank you!]

RSL in win-Windy City situation

this is going to so much fun? Gee who do i cheer for if REAL plays Galaxy? ...

Hall would rather take a hit

The great QBs make defenses pay for bringing pressure. Hall offers up...

I completely concur, this exhibition game was supposed to be easy and a blow...

Maybe we should just back up 50 years and do away with all laws etc. passed...

So does Hall enjoy absorbing the contact as Call says, or in Hall's own...

Well put, let it die. A lot people who want the health care bill haven't...

D-Will, Price sit out Jazz practice

If Jerry studies "game tape" he will see how to beat the Celtics, see Phoenix...

Advertisements
Advertisement