UTA sues Greyhound over injured woman

The Utah Transit Authority is suing Greyhound Lines Inc. to recover money UTA said it paid out to a Greyhound passenger who fell at the Salt Lake Intermodal Hub.

On March 18, 2008, an 86-year-old woman who was travelling from Sacramento, Calif., to Boise on a Greyhound bus was on a stop-over at the hub, 250 S. 600 West, according to the lawsuit, filed this week in 3rd District Court.

The woman tripped over a piece of concrete and fell. She injured her right elbow and fractured her right hip. She was hospitalized, underwent hip surgery and spent five weeks in physical therapy, the lawsuit states.

UTA investigated the incident and settled the woman's claim on Feb. 13, 2009, for $50,000 and agreed to pay the woman's Medicare liens, estimated to exceed $30,000, the suit states.

Salt Lake City was the original owner of the hub and leased it to Greyhound. UTA is now the owner of the hub and inherited the lease. UTA is supposed to accept "all the rights and obligations of the city" on the space, according to the suit, but Greyhound is supposed to carry liability insurance or be self-insured for personal injury claims.

After the woman was injured, Greyhound referred her to UTA with her claim. UTA is suing for breach of contract, failure to deal fairly and in good faith and breach of fiduciary duty. UTA also seeks a declaratory judgment from the court that Greyhound is at fault and owes UTA the settlement costs and attorney fees.

UTA seeks a jury trial and at least $80,000 from Greyhound.

Maureen Richmond, a spokeswoman for Dallas-based Greyhound, said she could not comment because the litigation is pending.

— Laura Hancock