Driver files suit against the City of New Orleans for missing stop sign

NEW ORLEANS – Following a motor vehicle collision a driver has filed suit against the City of New Orleans based on her claim that a traffic control sign was missing from an intersection.

Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Terry Leggett, and Carol Leggett filed suit against City of New Orleans and City of New Orleans Department of Public Works in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on July 7.

The plaintiff claims that while driving down a New Orleans street her motor vehicle collided with another motor vehicle at an intersection that is supposed to have a stop sign. The plaintiff claims the sign was laying on the side of the street in a place that made it unable for her to see or know that she had to stop. The plaintiff claims she is unfamiliar with the intersection and did not know there was a traffic control sign there previously. The plaintiff alleges that the missing traffic control sign directly caused the motor vehicle collision, for which she was cited and fined.

The defendant is accused of failing to maintain the street traffic controls in a safe condition, failing to take appropriate steps after actual or constructive knowledge of a missing traffic control, failure to warn motorists of an unreasonably dangerous condition, and neglecting to inspect, repair or correct a dangerous condition at a busy intersection.

The plaintiff is seeking an unknown amount in damages for the damages done to both vehicles, the fine the plaintiff was issued, replacement vehicle expenses and legal expenses.

Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Terry Leggett and Carol Leggett are represented by Aimee C. Lacoste from the Law Office of Maria B. De Gracia in Metairie.

The case has been assigned to Division F Judge Christopher J. Bruno.

Case no. 2014-06584.