Final bus accident suit settled in Monroe County

8/13/2005

MONROE The last of the lawsuits filed in a 2002 school bus accident in Erie Township was settled Thursday in Monroe County Circuit Court.

The settlement, on behalf of Annie Ewing, 70, of Detroit brought to $5.5 million the total amount paid for the 37 claims in the class-action suit, said attorney Rebecca Walsh of Fieger, Fieger, Kenney & Johnson, of Southfield, Mich.

The amount of Ms. Ewing s settlement was not disclosed.

Ms. Ewing was serving as a chaperone for her grandson on the bus, which collided with a tractor-trailer at Erie and Telegraph roads on Oct. 10.

There were 41 children and 17 chaperones aboard the vehicle from Pierre Toussaint Academy, a Detroit charter school.

Fourteen children and seven chaperones were hurt in the accident.

Beverly Smith, the bus driver employed by Trinity, Inc., of Wyandotte, Mich., was cited for careless driving.