Man sues Cd'A School District over accident

COEUR d'ALENE - A man is suing the Coeur d'Alene School District and several of its current and former employees for more than $100,000 in connection to a 2013 accident.

Tyler Benjamin was driving south on U.S. 95 at 8:06 a.m., when his vehicle was struck by a school district bus whose driver failed to yield, court documents state.

In a complaint for damages filed with the Kootenai County District Court on June 30, Benjamin claims that he was traveling 60 mph when he observed the school bus cross in front of him.

"The plaintiff (Benjamin) applied his brakes in an attempt to avoid colliding with the School District school bus, but struck the right rear of the bus, coming to rest on the southwest corner of the intersection," the complaint states.

The driver of the bus, Donald Holam, said when he noticed Benjamin's vehicle approaching he tried to speed up in order to avoid being hit. Holam was cited for failure to yield at an intersection, the complaint states.

Benjamin, the complaint alleges, suffered "general and special damages" from the accident, including emotional and physical pain, as well as expenses for therapy and medical treatment.

Paul Daughtry is representing Benjamin in the case, and in the complaint stated that the man is seeking $50,000 for "past, present and future medical expenses." The suit is asking that an additional $50,000 be awarded to Benjamin for damages "representing past, present and future physical, mental and emotional injury, pain and suffering, impairment and/or illness."

The Coeur d'Alene School District, Superintendent Matthew Handelman and members of the district's board of trustees were named as defendants in the civil lawsuit.

Spokesperson Laura Rumpler told the Press Monday that the district does not comment on ongoing lawsuits.