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$38 million deal reached for Minnesota bridge collapse victims

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Minnesota lawmakers reached agreement on a $38 million compensation package for victims of a deadly bridge collapse, culminating months of work to provide relief beyond the state’s legal liability.

The deal struck in a joint committee of the House and Senate will offer everyone who was on the bridge up to $400,000, with an additional $12.6 million pool for the people who suffered the most severe injuries and losses. Thirteen people died in the Aug. 1 collapse, and 145 were hurt.

“This is what we’ve been fighting for the whole time,” Kimberly Brown, who suffered back, neck and knee injuries, told reporters Friday. “For everything that everybody’s been through, thank God that they have figured out a way to help everybody.”

The package is expected to be approved by the Legislature on Monday and sent off to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who called it “needed relief and support” for victims.

If victims agreed to take the money, they would have to sign away their rights to sue the state and other governmental entities in Minnesota. They would not be precluded from suing other parties in the collapse.

The deal came after months of hearings and negotiations among lawmakers.

Victims said they were thankful for the compromise.

Jennifer Holmes, who lost her husband, Patrick, in the collapse, thanked lawmakers and said she plans to take the settlement to avoid the waiting and uncertainty she would face if she sued the state.



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