The Sparks City Council will consider on Monday whether to accept a $1.2 million settlement offer from Maureen Hvegholm, the older woman injured in an altercation with a Sparks firefighter while she was feeding cats in an alleyway.
Hvegholm sued the city and firefighter Timothy Egan. Hvegholm’s attorney, Luke Busby, initially wanted $2 million to settle threatened litigation.
The parties participated in a settlement conference on May 7, mediated by retired Judge Janet Berry. The city offered $250,000, which Hvegholm rejected. She countered with a $2 million settlement proposal.
On May 28, the Sparks City Council voted to make a counteroffer of $500,000 to resolve the lawsuit, which Hvegholm rejected. The latest offer is for $1.2 million.
“This agenda item provides the City Council the opportunity to review and either accept or reject the $1,200,000 offer contemplated between the Parties to resolve claims asserted by Maureen Hvegholm against the City of Sparks and City of Sparks Fire Department employee Tim Egan,” the meeting’s agenda notes.
The council can reject the settlement, accept it or make another counteroffer.
Hvegholm’s attorney, Luke Busby, represents This Is Reno in public records litigation. He did not provide information for this report.