13-05-2025
Kansas City could award $915,000 Tuesday to firefighter who killed 3 in crash
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tuesday, Kansas City's Finance Governance and Public Safety Committee will be asked to approve nearly $3 million in settlements in three settlements come just weeks after the Kansas City Police Board approved more than $18 million in total settlements to Ricky Kidd for his wrongful incarceration and the family of Cameron Lamb for his wrongful death.
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One of the latest payees may come as a surprise, the city employee who admitted guilt in three people's deaths and has already cost the city money in the case.
Dominic Biscari, Frank Blake and Chris Hernandez all will have lawsuit settlements discussed Tuesday.
A judge already awarded Hernandez at least $700,000 in a whistleblower lawsuit that stemmed from being told to lie to the media which ultimately led to the dismissal of City Manager Brian Platt. The $1.4 million dollar total now up for approval would also include legal fees.
In 2021 Biscari, 21, was going 51 in a 35 mph zone with lights and sirens when he crashed into a vehicle at Westport and Broadway and a pedestrian on the sidewalk, before crashing into a building killing three people.
Dispatch had told him to end response to the call prior to the crash. State caps helped the city only pay out $1.8 million of $32 million in judgments.
Biscari admitted guilt but maintained innocence in what's called an Alford Plea in 2023 to three counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter.
By the next year, friends and loved ones were protesting an arbitration decision to grant Biscari backpay and allow for him to return to work.
Now, Kansas City's law department director says $915,000 will settle lawsuits between the city and the International Association of Firefighters, Local No. 42 and Biscari's worker's compensation claims.
In 2021, Army Colonel Frank Blake was also badly injured in a crash while riding his bicycle at the North Kansas City intersection of Amity Avenue and Northwest Boulevard. FOX4 reported a year earlier on the dangerous intersection after nine crashes that year, but no changes were immediately made prior to Blake's injuries. Blake's settlement would be for $387,000.
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'Yeah its concerning and we're on a tight budget anyway, and its really frustrating to spend money like that, but like I said, I trust our legal department to make the right recommendation,' Kansas City 2nd District Councilman Wes Rogers said.
The settlements will be discussed at the committee meeting taking place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday inside City Hall.
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