Tuesday, December 4 2012 10:32 PM EST2012-12-05 03:32:36 GMT
A Mission Hills man paralyzed by a falling palm tree is speaking out about his lawsuit against the city.More >>
A Mission Hills man paralyzed by a falling palm tree is speaking out about his lawsuit against the city.More >>
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A man who is suing the city for negligence after he was paralyzed by a falling tree took the stand Monday.
Michael Burke's legs were crushed when a 60-foot palm tree fell on him during a storm nearly three years ago. He claims the accident is the result of budget cuts to tree trimming services and inspections.
Burke says he was putting his computer in a friend's car when the tree toppled onto him.
"I fell on the ground and the palm tree was on top of me and I was in severe, severe pain," Burke said.
Burke is asking for $8 million in damages. The city says it has no way of knowing if a tree will fall during a storm.
