Cop who fell on the job sues family of baby who almost drowned

Orlando Sentinel ^ | October 10, 2007 | Rene Stutzman

[FloridianBushFan]

On the news last night it was reported that the police chief does not support the lawsuit

[AnOldCowhand]

Behind this cop’s actions there is a lawyer.

Lawyers are empowered by greedy people.

[reagan_fanatic]

Oh my God, that poor, poor child. How horrible.

Parents, PLEASE - know where your child is at all times and don't let them out of your sight!

[BritExPatInFla]

“I didn’t notice from the story that the child had a father. Did I miss something there?”

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Damn, that changes everything, this police officer should double the amount she’s seeking, being forced to go to a 911 call at a home with an immoral single mother and her enabling parents.
[/sarc]

[Crim]

If this isnt “conduct unbecoming of an officer”....what is?

[Dengar01]

I just saw this story on Fox News and I want to break stuff now. What an evil rotten witch. Her and the lawyer should be thrown in prison, for harassing this poor family.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I thought this is what workman's comp was suppose to be for..."

A worker's comp carrier can try to subrogate against a third party if there's a possibility of liability/negligence other than the employer. For example, if you're a carpenter working for a construction company, but the ladder you're climbing breaks because of faulty materials or construction, your employer's worker's comp carrier will go after the general liability carrier for the ladder manufacurer. I suspect that's what's going on here...Some municipalities, particularly the larger ones, are self-insured for either worker's comp, liability or both, and may be leaving the officer hanging out to dry with her medical bills.

Having said all that, I think suing the family is an unmitigated act of the highest sleaziness.

[Abathar]

I agree with you Joe, but a police officer is put in situations far more diverse than most standard employment, and recognizing this I do believe the state helps municipalities with WC costs simply because officers and firemen are always getting hurt on the job. It truly is an occupational hazard for them to go to work every day and they know that when they join.

If the WC isn't paying her bills then she needs to go after them with a lawyer, not the homeowner. Standing where the EMT's were administering CPR on a drowning victim and then slipping in the water should directly fall under WC, she needs to go after them, not the panicked family members who quite frankly at that moment would give a rats *ss if the police were there afterwords or not, much less a couple of cups of water on the floor.

I can't believe that she would go through with this knowing what the other officers she has to work with must feel about it deep down inside, with the publicity she is getting I bet she retires soon.

[Abathar]

Oh, and I am not sure so don’t quote me yet, but I think I read in another article that the family doesn’t have insurance for this, I will have to check.

[Abathar]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910071/posts

She dropped her suit.

[zimmerking]

One lawyer in town = He drives a Yugo
Two lawyers in town = They both drive Mercedes Benzes