Lights Out For Public Safety?

What legal responsibility do cities have to provide adequate public services, such as traffic signals and street lights?

1 minute read

November 1, 2003, 9:00 AM PST

By David Gest


"[A] recent Michigan Court of Appeals decision" noted that "a municipality would be immune from liability even if it 1) took months to repair a malfunctioning traffic signal, 2) installed one-way signs pointing in the opposite direction of the actual traffic flow, or 3) failed to provide stop signs or traffic signals at a newly created intersection." In the past, people injured as a result of city negligence have been compensated. What has caused the change?

Thanks to David Gest

Wednesday, October 29, 2003 in The Detroit Free Press

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