Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Claims And Liability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harrison County supervisors deny resident claim after vehicle struck by object during road mowing
Summary
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors denied a claim by Stephanie Lazanna after an object struck her car at the Canal Road–Landon Road intersection on May 14, 2026; staff said warning signs were posted and no negligence by county crews was shown, and the board said it lacked authority to pay absent employee negligence.
Stephanie Lazanna told the Harrison County Board of Supervisors that on May 14 she was stopped at the red light at Landon and Canal when she heard “a loud thump on my car on the passenger driver side.” She said she did not see any debris in the roadway and did not find the object afterward.
County staff and supervisors reviewed photographs and the worksite setup; staff said signage and detour instructions had been placed to warn drivers while crews mowed the roadside. No object or clear evidence of county negligence was produced to support payment of the claim.
County counsel reminded the board that, under state law and county practice, the county may pay a claim only if it finds negligence by a county employee. Counsel advised that, on the available record and the claimant’s testimony, the board lacked authority to approve payment.
A supervisor moved to deny the claim and, after a second and discussion, the board voted to deny the request. The motion was recorded and carried; supervisors explained the denial rests on the absence of evidence the county employee acted negligently.
The claim hearing is closed; the denial was administrative. The claimant may pursue other remedies outside the county’s claims process if she chooses.
