Council Committee Backs $50,000 Settlement to Family of Traffic Collision Victims

A Los Angeles City Council committee recommended Tuesday that the city pay $50,000 of a lawsuit settlement of about $692,000 stemming from a fatal Studio City traffic accident involving singer Luther Vandross.

The council’s Finance and Revenue Committee recommended settlement of the suit filed by the parents of 27-year-old Lawrence Salvemini, killed in the January, 1986, accident, and by his 15-year-old brother, Jimmy, who was seriously injured.

The proposed settlement was sent to the council for approval.

The Salveminis were passengers in a car driven by Vandross that crossed the center line on Laurel Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Ventura Boulevard and smashed into two oncoming vehicles.

Police alleged that Vandross was traveling 50 m.p.h. in a 35-m.p.h. zone, but the singer, who last December pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless driving and was placed on probation, claimed that dangerous road conditions were responsible.

Assistant City Atty. Philip Shiner said that Laurel Canyon Boulevard at Berry Drive, where the accident occurred, contains a right-turn-only lane. Just past the intersection, Laurel Canyon narrows, “essentially blocking traffic from continuing straight in the right-turn lane,” Shiner said.

The city attorney said that right-turn-only warning signs before the road narrowed were not in place at the time of the accident. The signs since have been posted. “In addition, photographs taken shortly after the accident disclose that the pavement markings that delineate the right-turn-only lane and the arrow with the word ‘only’ on the pavement were faded,” Shiner said.

Vandross also claimed that an overhanging olive tree dropped its fruit, creating a slick road.

Vandross contended, Shiner said in a report to the committee, “that due to his unfamiliarity with the roadway and the poor state of repair of the pavement markings, he was driving in what he thought was an additional lane available for northbound traffic, that upon realizing that he could not continue straight, began a turning movement to his left, slipped in the oil slick and lost control of his vehicle.”

Shiner, in recommending the settlement, said, “There is a risk that either the plaintiffs or Vandross could convince a jury that the intersection was dangerous. . . . “

Under the proposed settlement, Vandross will pay about $600,000 in addition to about $20,000 to $30,000 he has already paid; the olive tree’s owner will pay $12,000, and the city will pay $50,000. Some or all of Vandross’ share is expected from his auto insurance company.

Three others injured in the accident--the drivers of the other two cars and a passenger in one of them--still have lawsuits pending against Vandross and the city.