Rigby, Witkos seek immunity for MDC

HARTFORD — A jury’s decision to award $2.9 million to a Rocky Hill woman who crashed her bicycle into a steel gate has legislators scrambling to figure out how to avoid similar lawsuits in the future.

State Rep. John Rigby (R-63) and state Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-8) have announced they will push legislation that would grant the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) immunity from lawsuits filed by people injured at its recreational areas.

MDC has considered closing down bike trails and swimming areas following a jury decision in May, which awarded $2.9 million to Maribeth Blonski, who crashed her bicycle into a steel gate at the MDC reservoir in West Hartford in 2002. While MDC lawyers are appealing the verdict, officials from the nonprofit water company have announced they are now considering closing many of the district’s recreational areas, including Lake McDonough in Barkhamsted.

“An afternoon swim in Lake McDonough is quintessential Barkhamsted,� said Rigby. “I grew up swimming there. My children go there today, and their friends go there too. I look forward to working with MDC staff to craft legislation they need to protect it from similar lawsuits and keep these areas open to the public.�

Witkos added that recreation areas have become more important in recent years. “In this economy many people are foregoing their vacations and staying closer to home. We really need to do everything we can to ensure that the MDC locations remain open,â€� he said. “While I am certainly cognizant of the issue at hand, I don’t believe it should prevent people from enjoying these outdoor recreation areas.â€�

Maribeth Blonski was reportedly not watching the trail on May 16, 2002, when she hit a gate designed to keep cars off the trails at the West Hartford MDC reservoir. Blonski broke four vertebrae in her neck in the accident. She subsequently claimed the MDC endangered people by installing the gate. The lawsuit has drawn widespread criticism from Connecticut residents and mountain bikers who are concerned that trails may be closed as a result of the verdict.

MDC has said the monetary award will translate into increased rates for water users. The company will hold a July 20 hearing in Hartford on the issue of closing its recreation areas.

Latest News

Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less