TriMet agrees to pay beating victim $75,000

GRESHAM, Ore. - A man who was beaten with a baseball bat at a MAX stop will be getting $75,000 from TriMet in a lawsuit settlement.

In 2007, Laurie Chilcote, 73, was hit over the head with a baseball bat after getting off a MAX train at Northeast 8th Street and Kelly Avenue in Gresham. He suffered extensive head injuries.

His attacker, 15-year-old Abel Chavez-Garcia, was later sentenced to 9 1/2 years in prison.

The teen had already been arrested 11 times since he was 14. He also is not a U.S. citizen and will face deportation proceedings once he finishes his sentence.

Last year, Chilcote filed a lawsuit asking for more than $440,000, claiming the attack could have been prevented with simple security improvements. He blamed TriMet and the city of Gresham, saying they did nothing to stop numerous violent attacks.

The attack on Chilcote was one of several high-profile incidents at the time that led to calls for increased security on the light rail system. TriMet did respond to the concerns by increasing patrols by transit police, fare inspectors and supervisors.