Legislatve Settlement Payment Approved for Kearney Resident

The Nebraska Legislature is preparing a multi-million dollar payout for the Kearney man after he injured in a pursuit in Grand Island. A $4.45 million amount has been added in an amendment to LB1188. The bill, passed out of the Business and Labor Committee, handles settlement payout for the State of Nebraska. The multi-million dollar settlement will go to Miles and Christy Margritz.  The suite was filed in2020 after he was hit by a suspect fleeing the Nebraska State Patrol in 2017. The lawsuit claims that Jose Ortiz had stolen a vehicle and was heading north on Highway 281 in Grand Island. Authorities tried stopping him, but he fled at a high rate of speed while ignoring traffic signs and signals. Margritz drove into the intersection of Old Potash Highway and Highway 281 to make a left turn when Ortiz collided with his vehicle. The crash killed Ortiz, and it left Margritz with serious and permanent injuries.