The payments included $125,000 to the estate of 19-year-old fashion model Heather Bratton. She burned to death when the cab she was riding in broke down and was rear-ended near Interchange 14 in Newark in 2006. A state trooper had noted the highway lights were out at the time.
A man left with chronic pain after a fall at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel received $60,000.
Turnpike Authority spokesman Thomas Feeney told The Record newspaper settling lawsuits is often the more cost-effective option for a government agency.
Feeney says there are currently 33 open cases against the agency.
---
Information from: The Record, http://www.northjersey.com
