Island Dispatch, 1989-03-31

              ISLAND DISPATCH Weather THE OLD Farmer's Almanac says: March 31: rain, very warm. April 1-2: clear, very warm. April 3-6: severe cold wave. April 6-7: rain, mild. With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS 35e GRAND ISLAND, NY 14072 • 773-7676 20 PAGES VOL. 46 NO. 3 • Mar. 31. 1989 $4.2 Million Awarded In Truck Accident On GI Bridge THE LARGEST verdict for a negligence suit in the history of Western New York was awarded by a jury in February, 1988 and was satisfied this week. The two and a half week trial held before Justice Norman E. Joslin concluded with a $6,375 million award for plaintiffs Ralph and Diana Landwehr formerly of Springville. James J. Moran, attorney for the Landwehrs, said an appeal by the defendants was withdrawn for a settlement totalling $4.2 million. The award to Mrs. Landwehr represented the largest award ever, anywhere, for the spouse of an injured person. Justice Joslin appointed Judge Matthew J. Jasen as law guardian for Ralph Landwehr who remains in a braindamaged condition at a convalescent home in Palmyra, NY. Damages resulted from a truck accident on the North Grand Island Bridge on February 24, 1978. According to a front page account reported in the March 3, 1978 Dispatch, Landwehr's "tractor trailer slid out of control and hit the railing, according to police. Landwehr, after going through the windshield, went over the rail and fell to the frozen river about 35 ft. below the bridge." Defendants in the case were Donald Baughman Inc., John Schutt Inc., both of Buffalo and Paccar, Inc. of San Francisco. More Bridge Woes See page 3.