PATRICIA R. DEGANUTTI, Claimant, v. THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Respondent.
Case summary
Claimant sought $250.00 for damage to her automobile caused by striking a pothole on the Eisenhower Expressway. The court accepted the parties' stipulation and awarded the agreed amount.
AI-generated summary from the opinion text — may contain errors. The opinion text and PDF above are the official record.
Headnotes
- T YRONE C. F AHNER, Attorney General (GLEN P. L ARNER, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent.
- HicHwAYs-pothole-damage to car-stipulation-claim allowed. Based on joint stipulation of parties, claim was allowed for damage sustained to Claimant’s automobile which struck large pothole in State highway as parties agreed that State was liable for existence of pothole and Clainiant was driving with due care at time car struck hole.
This matter comes before the Court on the joint stipulation of the parties, which states as follows:
1. That the instant claim seeks to recover for damage to Claimant’s automobile sustained on December 9, 1978, on the Eisenhower Expressway near its junction with Mannheim Road.
2. That on said date at said location, Claimant’s automobile struck a large pothole in the right-hand westbound lane.
3. That the impact caused damage to the rear axle of Claimant’s vehicle.
4. That at the time and place in question, Claimant was in the exercise of due care for the safety of herself and her vehicle.
5. That Respondent concedes liability for the existence of the pothole and the damages sustained in the amount of $250.00.
6. That there are no disputed questions of fact.
[*285] 7. That both parties waive hearing and the submission of briefs.
8. That no other evidence, oral or written, will be submitted to the Court.
9. That an award of $250.00 will constitute full and final satisfaction of the instant claim and any other claim arising out of the same occurrence. Although the Court is not bound by a stipulation such as this, it is also not desirous of interposing a controversy where none appears to exist. As long as the stipulation appears reasonable and fair, we see no reason to question its validity or to force the parties to take the time and expense of proving facts which are not in dispute.
We find the stipulated facts to be sufficient to sustain a finding of liability on the part of Respondent and an award in the agreed amount.
Claimant is hereby awarded the amount of $250.00 (two hundred fifty dollars and no cents).