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470 Pil~sbur:, Confer
<br />200 5ouch Si:,xh ~crcct
<br />~innc:polis ~v[N ~5402
<br />(6t 2) 3370300 telephone
<br />t6!2) 337-~310 fa.,:
<br />-ma~i: arp,,s~kcnnedy-gravcn.com
<br />
<br />,'Lug_us: 1, 1997
<br />
<br />CH^tl,~:$ [.. 'LE'FEVER£
<br /> Auomey ~t L..a~
<br /> [hr'em Di,~l (6.12)3'$7-9215
<br />
<br />Mr. Iviatt Fulton
<br />Chv Manager
<br />c'::.,, 'of New Brighton
<br />803 5th .&venue N-W
<br />New Brigiq:on MN 551i2-2792
<br />
<br />?~E: Liabih'o, for P'lacemenr qf Stop $igna./
<br />
<br />Some Lime ago the council was consJdenng the installation of a stop sign at an mtersecuon where
<br />:he "warranr_s" for a stop sign did not ex:st, t~'~e City Council requested that [ review the law
<br />:o c~cte,wnine whether placement of a stop sign under r_hesc circumstances exposes the City to
<br />~o~.'.:n:ial liability. A memorandum on the subject is atzached. .
<br />
<br />¥O S'
<br /> _umrna .... the memorandum, it' the Citw"were sued for p.f,~dng ~ stop sign at an intersection
<br />x.'hzrz war:aha for a stop sign did not exist, the gu-st line of defense would be co claim that the
<br />.... ~' Counci]'s decision was one which qualified for a defense of immunity.. In recent years, the
<br />c.vum4 have e×pan0ed the applicabi!i~ of tSe docmne of immunity so that more governmental
<br /> ' ~c_i~ ..... ,.. ...... ~ <...~,., ) ;~ -._
<br />:]cci~;;ons ~,=~, ',;':t:m thc c~oc:-,mc. LE rk, e City '~,':r= ....... : ....... defending rs,= ,-= .,, on LhiS
<br />ba.~is, there would ~ nc, liabiLi:v. However, the law relating to immunity is not well serried, and
<br />it is ,~nrSrmly possible :hat ~e immunity defense would not prevail:
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<br />Jf me City were not successful in defendin~o such a claim on this basis, the question would ~
<br />'~,vhc:,cr r. be City was negligent in placing the sign. h ix highly'likely that the warrants of the
<br />?dJnnesor_a Manual would be inu-oduced as evidence chat the City had not exercise_4 due care in
<br />:-afzqc management. Additionally, I have heard Several engineers note that there are studies
<br />v,'mc:: suggest chat ii me puDiic perceives :ha: a stop sign is pl. ace~ in a locauon where'
<br />:':ra::~s:ncss do not justify it. motorists will ~ incline~ to diso~y the sign, or ~ey wil! ~
<br /> I'' I '
<br />:nor': :u:s~ :o :ncreass the: spe~ a:mr stopping ar the s::n :o make up for lost time. Axsumin:
<br />mis :3 an accurate ¢e~:aUon of :eoumble :aTfic studies which are 'known and resoe::eO by
<br />::'aTTiC_ s~o,,jnc-~, .... :here may ~ addJmona! evidence [hat the placement of such s~uns creates an
<br />u n.,;a: c sondiuon. ,,
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