A traffic accident that allegedly involved a Summit County snowplow operator last year in Pinebrook has resulted in a lawsuit against the government.
A complaint filed against the county in Third District Court March 8 by the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company attempts to recover almost $4,000 in damages from the county.
On Jan. 10, 2005, a county employee driving a snowplow struck a vehicle insured by the plaintiff, the complaint states.
“[Summit County] had a duty to properly see that its employees are trained in safe driving and the actions of the employee are attributable to Summit County,” the compliant states.
According to the lawsuit, County Public Works employee J.R. Pallesen was driving the plow at the time of the crash near an intersection on Wagon Wheel Drive in Snyderville.
The insurance company claims Pallesen failed to safely drive the snowplow in inclement weather and was following Snyderville resident David Naftz too close the day Naftz’s vehicle was struck.
The lawsuit seeks damages from the county in the amount of $3,985 to cover the collision repair.
Summit County Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme was not aware of the lawsuit on Thursday.