A 101-year-old widow who sued the city after tripping over a sidewalk pothole settled her negligence claim for $35,000, her lawyer said yesterday.
Nellie Gillenson, the oldest living plaintiff with a suit against the city, complained last week that the city was delaying her case despite her advanced age. She said she was afraid she might die before it be resolved.
The corporation counsel’s office made a surprise settlement offer shortly after the Daily News inquired about its handling of the suit.
Gillenson, who suffered a broken shoulder and cheekbone in the mishap last summer, was seeking $500,000 in damages. She accepted the city’s settlement offer on the advice of her attorney, Vito Cannavo, and her family.
“I still have pain, so I think I should have gotten much more,” said Gillenson, whose health has deteriorated since the accident. “I still feel it is not enough. But I feel like I can’t fight anymore.
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The bulk of the money would go to pay her medical bills, she said.
