1746                             Joint Resolutions

He was employed as an independent contractor by the County Com-
missioners of St. Mary's County to drive a school bus. He was on a
route between Chaptico and Helen. During evenings, he operated
as a barber in the Town of Mechanicsville, Maryland.

On the day of the accident there had recently been a severe snow-
storm and the roads were filled with snow. While driving his school
bus on Maryland Route 234 he came upon a section of the road which
was blocked by a snowdrift. Ahead of him, he noted a snowplow
operated by Mr. Lacey, a State Roads Commission employee. Mr.
Wood stopped his bus and proceeded in an adjoining field to inquire
how long it would be before the road would be opened. While so
doing, Mr. Wood was struck by the snow plow.

He was immobilized in a hospital for many months while physicians
and surgeons were testing the progress of severe injuries to his leg.
Approximately seven months later, it finally proved necessary to
amputate one leg below the knee.

Mr. Wood's medical and surgical fees amounted to approximately
$5,000. His annual income at the time amounted, in the aggregate,
to approximately $5,100. He has a present life expectancy of some
thirteen years.

After suit was brought on this case, it was settled by agreement
carrying a verdict in the amount of $65,000 against the defendant.
However, the defendant is covered only in the sum of $25,000 in the
liability policy carried by the State Roads Commission.

This is a clear case in which personal injury was caused by an
employee of the State of Maryland. The equities of the case are
strengthened by the fact that the plaintiff is a contractor for one of
the school systems of Maryland, and at the time of his injuries, was
engaged in his work as a school bus driver.

There is a clear obligation here of the State of Maryland to reim-
burse Mr. Ambrose E. Wood in the amount of $40,000; now, there-
fore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the oGvernor
of Maryland be requested to investigate the facts of this case and
to insert into the supplemental budget an item of $10,000 as reim-
bursement for the most unfortunate injury incurred by Mr. Ambrose
E. Wood, of St. Mary's County; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
THAT AFTER HEARING A FULL REPORT OF THE ACCI-
DENT AND CONSIDERING THE LEGAL LIABILITY AND
EQUITIES OF THE CASE IT IS THE SENSE OF THE GEN-
RAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE GOVERNOR BE REQUESTED TO
INSERT INTO THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AN ITEM IN
THE AMOUNT OF $28,000. AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE
INJURY INCURRED BY MR. AMBROSE E. WOOD PROVIDED
HE FURNISH A FULL AND COMPLETE RELEASE TO MR.
THOMAS L. LACEY FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE OUTSTAND-
ING JUDGMENT AGAINST HIM AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCI-
DENT.

Approved May 3, 1961.