Attorney: Settlement reached in car crash lawsuit against Joliet mayor

A woman reached a settlement with Mayor Bob O’Dekirk and the city of Joliet over a car crash that occurred last year, according to her attorney.

Attorney Andrea Torgrimson said Thursday that a settlement was reached between her client Falana Turner and O’Dekirk over an incident where he crashed into Turner’s car Feb. 5, 2018.

O’Dekirk received court supervision and was fined $250 for the crash.

The mayor made an improper left turn and hit Turner’s vehicle while driving his stepdaughter to school in a city car he took home the night before.

Turner filed a lawsuit against O’Dekirk and the city that sought more than $50,000 in damages. After the incident, Turner complained of head pain and was taken to the hospital.

Torgrimson said she couldn’t disclose the terms of the settlement because of a confidentiality agreement that is part of the deal. She said there was a payout as part of the settlement but she couldn’t say how much or which party paid.

Torgrimson said Joliet’s insurance company offered to settle the lawsuit on behalf of O’Dekirk and the city.

O’Dekirk and interim City Attorney Chris Regis failed to respond to messages left Thursday.

Will County Judge John Anderson dismissed the case after neither party appeared for the conference May 20.

However, Torgrimson appeared in court Thursday to have the case dismissed because a settlement had been reached, not because neither party failed to appear. No attorneys appeared on behalf of the city or O’Dekirk.