From City News Service
A singer-poet and her husband are suing the Culver City Police Department, alleging she was injured when struck by a patrol car traveling the wrong way at high speed with no siren sounding as she walked across a major street on Valentine's Day.
The lawsuit brought on behalf of Karen Gibson Roc and her 46-year-old spouse, Philippe, also names Officer Andrew Bass as a defendant and alleges he was negligent and was engaged in an "ultra-hazardous" activity.
Gibson Roc, 48, was able-bodied before the accident, but "will be incapacitated and unable to perform her usual work for an indefinite period of time in the future," according to the suit.
Philippe Roc alleges loss of consortium.
Culver City City Attorney Carol Schwab today issued a brief response to the filing of the case.
"Our office must decline to comment, as this matter involves litigation," she said.
According to the suit, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Gibson Roc was crossing Washington Boulevard near Prospect Avenue about 3:15 p.m. Feb. 14 when she was struck by the patrol car while headed to La Ballona Elementary School to pick up her daughter.
She suffered various fractures and a broken left hip as well as other injuries, according to a claim attached to the lawsuit. She also has vertigo as a result of the accident and has future damages in excess of $110 million, the claim states.
Gibson Roc was born in Jamaica, grew up in Toronto, Canada, and now lives in Culver City. On her website, she states that her main theme "is the evolution of spirit and the truth about following what is your calling here in the physical."
