City Pays $3.75M to Firehouse Brawl Victim
Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 | Updated 12:39 PM EDT
The city paid a Staten Island firefighter almost $4 million to settle a claim he brought after he was beaten in a firehouse on New Years Eve of 2003.
A firefighter, critically injured when a colleague hit him with a metal chair, has reached a $3.75 million settlement with New York City.
Robert Walsh testified at his federal lawsuit trial that the firehouse attack, on New Year's Eve 2003, was the culmination of nearly two years of anti-gay slurs.
Spokeswoman Kate Ahlers says the city's law department is pleased that the matter has been resolved.
Walsh's lawyer did not return calls for comment, but his co-counsel also confirmed the settlement.
Former firefighter Michael Silvestri pleaded guilty to assault in 2006 and served a year in jail. He told the Staten Island Advance last month that he wishes Walsh "nothing but the best."
Copyright Associated Press
