Cedar Rapids to pay $150K to pedestrian struck by police officer

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids will pay $150,000 to a pedestrian who was struck by a city police officer while using a crosswalk.

The Cedar Rapids City Council approved the settlement at its most recent meeting in a move meant to “avoid the further cost of litigation” without admitting legal liability, per city documents.

The settlement pertains to a personal injury lawsuit filed against the city in 2022 by Miranda Anderson, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, following an Aug. 28, 2020, incident in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Anderson’s suit states she was using the crosswalk at the intersection of Second Avenue SE and Third Street SE when she was struck by Cedar Rapids Police officer Jessica Barnhart as Barnhart turned onto Second Avenue.

Barnhart had been stopped at a stop sign at the intersection, the suit states, and she failed to see Anderson in the crosswalk prior to attempting the turn. Her patrol vehicle then struck Anderson.

The extent of Anderson’s injuries is not cataloged in court filings, although it is stated she sustained injuries to her hip, back and shoulder. She later filed a lawsuit against Barnhart and the city for damages.

In a response to Anderson’s suit, attorneys for the city acknowledged that Barnhart had struck Anderson but argued Anderson had failed to “state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”

The parties exchanged a series of legal volleys prior to reaching a settlement agreement earlier this year. The case has been removed from the court calendar to give attorneys time to file the appropriate documents to dismiss the case, online filings show.

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