OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The man severely injured in an unauthorized controlled burn near the Nebraska-South Dakota border in 2012 will receive $550,000 to help pay his medical bills.
The lawsuit Bryan Bluebird Jr. filed against the village of Rushville, its volunteer fire department, Sheridan County and the Sheridan County sheriff was settled last week.
Bluebird’s lawyer, Tom White, says his client is pleased with the result.
Court documents show that fire officials failed to get permission from the landowner or a permit before setting the field on fire. And White says officials failed to search the field thoroughly beforehand.
The attorney who represented fire officials and Rushville, Jeffrey Nix, declined to comment Tuesday. Fire Chief Dwaine Sones didn’t immediately respond to a message.