The city has agreed to pay a 73-year-old North Carolina woman $321,321 in damages for injuries she suffered when she tripped and fell on a sidewalk in McCully nearly four years ago.

Ellen Wall was visiting with her husband in May 2005 when she tripped on a section of sidewalk that had been lifted by tree roots, according to a press release from Wall's attorney, Daniel Chur. Wall lost the vision in her right eye, despite nine surgeries, her attorney said.

Wall filed a lawsuit against the city in 2007, alleging that the city knew about the sidewalk problem, but failed to properly maintain the area. The city agreed to the settlement shortly before the case was scheduled to go to trial, the statement said.

City officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.