Pittsburgh City Council inched closer Tuesday to actually cutting checks for the people hurt when the Fern Hollow Bridge gave way in 2022, holding an executive-session discussion on settlement payments that kick off the process of issuing city warrants. The move covers 10 people injured when the Forbes Avenue span dropped into Frick Park on Jan. 28, 2022, after years of finger-pointing over who should pay. Council members stressed that this is a procedural step, a start toward payouts rather than money hitting bank accounts.
Settlements and how they add up
KDKA-TV has reported that lawsuits filed by the injured were resolved earlier this year and that the settlements listed on the city’s paperwork total about $445,000, with individual payments ranging roughly from $40,000 to $90,000.
What officials and lawyers said
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the legal fight is over. “All cases by all plaintiffs against all defendants have been completely resolved,” attorney Jason Matzus wrote in a statement to reporters. Coverage notes that three engineering firms were named as responsible parties in the suits and that the mayor’s office and the city solicitor had no comment. Council members told reporters the solicitor advised them not to comment and that the topic will get a brief public airing at a standing-committee meeting on Wednesday, as per KDKA-TV.
How much the city can pay
Pennsylvania law limits recoveries against political subdivisions to $500,000 for damages arising from the same occurrence, so the city’s statutory liability in a single event is capped, and any city payout has to fit inside that ceiling. The cap is set out in 42 Pa.C.S. § 8553, see 42 Pa.C.S. § 8553.
Why the bridge failed
The Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed on Jan. 28, 2022, sending vehicles into the ravine and injuring 10 people. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation found extensive corrosion and maintenance shortfalls that contributed to the structural failure, findings that have driven the litigation over who was responsible, according to NTSB.
What's next
Council’s June discussion was framed as a procedural first step, with paperwork listing the settlements appearing on the city agenda. The next visible movement will come as committee and council packets are updated. Hoodline previously covered the city’s earlier proposal to offer the $500,000 liability maximum in 2024, and the new listings suggest the dispute has shifted toward private settlement rather than the earlier $500K offer.
