Frivolous Michigan Accident Case Settled for $47,000

Posted by: Curt Varone January 3, 2012 4 Comments

A settlement has been reach in a controversial case of a Michigan man who lost control of his pickup, slammed into the back of a fire truck at an accident scene, and then sued. The 2009 accident occurred in Frenchtown Township where the driver, Nick Otter, had to be extricated from his pickup truck and transported by helicopter to a trauma center.

Many were shocked last year when Otter sued Frenchtown Township and one of the firefighters who helped save his life. A TV news station exposed Otter feigning injuries, harboring a horrendous driving record, and having drugs in his system at the time of the crash. Yet rather than incurring the expense of taking the case to trial, the Township and its insurer have decided to settle the case for $47,000.

According to news reports, Otter himself will not receive any of the $47,000. $20,000 will be placed in a trust fund for his children and $27,000 will go to his attorneys.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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