Pritchard v. City of Portland

Plaintiff sued the City of Portland (City) for personal injury and property damages allegedly caused by the City’s failure to keep a stop sign clear of foliage. The issue presented in this case is the efficacy of city ordinances to exempt the City from liability in such cases. The trial court entered a summary judgment for the City on the basis of the ordinances. The Court of Appeal reversed. We affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals, but on different grounds.

According to plaintiffs complaint, on June 9, 1985, plaintiff rode his motorcycle past a stop sign that was obscured by foliage…