August 12th 2024.
The city of Denver has recently agreed to pay a whopping $350,000 to settle a lawsuit brought against them by a delivery driver named Christopher Cordova, who was severely injured in a car accident involving a police officer three years ago. This decision was approved by the Denver City Council in a unanimous vote on Monday afternoon, along with an additional $40,000 payment from an insurance settlement.
According to Cordova's attorneys, the accident occurred in the early hours of April 13, 2021, while he was on his delivery route for Bimbo Bakeries. He was traveling on North Quebec Street near Sandcreek Drive and Interstate 270 when he was struck head-on by officer Jacob Marsh, who was driving an unmarked Denver Police Department vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Shockingly, Marsh did not have his emergency lights or siren activated at the time of the crash.
Cordova suffered serious and life-altering injuries as a result of the collision, although the specifics are not mentioned in the lawsuit. However, it was reported that he sustained a broken leg and incurred significant medical expenses. It is likely that he will continue to have ongoing medical expenses related to the accident.
As for Marsh, he was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault and was suspended without pay on April 27, 2021. According to a probable cause statement, he was driving at a speed of 75 mph, well above the speed limit, in an attempt to catch up with another driver for a traffic stop. However, that car did not stop and was not involved in the crash.
In addition to the settlement with Cordova, the city also agreed to pay nearly $40,000 to resolve a legal claim brought by Fleet Response, an insurance agency representing Bimbo Bakeries. Marsh himself was also seriously injured in the crash and was suspended without pay until his felony case was resolved. He was eventually acquitted of vehicular assault and reinstated to full duty on the force in August 2022.
However, Marsh resigned from the department in February, and shortly after, Denver public safety officials completed a summary of the disciplinary process against him. The summary revealed that at the time of the accident, Marsh was working off-duty providing traffic enforcement support for a construction project. He had not disclosed this job to his superiors and did not have approval to do so.
Before his resignation, the city was planning to fine Marsh for two days' pay for this violation and suspend him for 10 days for careless driving. This incident has sparked discussions about the safety of off-duty officers and whether they should be allowed to work in potentially dangerous roles without proper approval or supervision.
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