Student sues U., Escort

A University student hit by an Escort van last fall has filed suit against the University and Escort Services, claiming that the driver was speeding and not on the lookout for pedestrians. The student, Wharton senior Kevin Reish of 4414 Pine St., filed suit on March 4 in Common Pleas Court after failing to come to agreement with the University's Office of Risk Management. According to the complaint, the Escort van struck Reish "in the early evening hours" last November as he was crossing Pine St. to reach his residence. The impact threw Reish against a parked vehicle, the document continues. As a result of the accident, Reish suffered a fracture of the left side of his face, in addition to other injuries, the complaint states. Reish is suing for an amount in the excess of $50,000, and has requested a jury trial. Reish claims in his suit that the "defendant [University] operated its vehicle at a speed which was excessive for the lighting conditions which prevailed," and that the driver "failed to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians." In addition, Reish charges in his suit that the driver "failed to take appropriate evasive action" when he observed Reish crossing the street, and that he did not slow down once he saw Reish "to allow him to reach a place of safety." Reish would not comment on the case, but did say that according to a University Police report, there were 60 feet of skid marks at the scene of the accident, which took place in a 25mph speed zone. However, according to Ron Jasner, Director of the Office of Risk Management, the driver was traveling at 35mph. "The police think he was going 35 and that's what the driver says," said Jasner. "It's just like any other lawsuit, it'll go through the course of discovery and then we'll evaluate it." The University's outside counsel in the case, John Orlando, said that the case may take 4 years to come to trial. "Look both ways before you cross," added Orlando. Reish's lawyer could not be reached for comment.

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