Lawsuit filed over childs 911 call

bartongrl1 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 01:57 AM

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) - A lawyer filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Monday in the case of a 6-year-old boy who called 911 after his mother collapsed and was told by an operator he should not be playing on the phone.

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger has said Sherrill Turner, who had an enlarged heart, would have survived Feb. 20 if help had been sent immediately.
The lawsuit was filed by Turner's family against two unnamed dispatchers. Fieger said the city was not named in the lawsuit because state law prohibits it, but that Detroit would be liable for its employees. An amount was not specified in the lawsuit.

"We teach our children in the face of an emergency to call for help and call 911,'' Fieger said at his offices in the Detroit suburb of Southfield. "But when children call and ask for help, they're ignored, they're dismissed and they're threatened.''

Robert Turner, who was 5 at the time, was alone with his mother when she collapsed in the bedroom. In the first call, he told the operator that his mother had passed out, but the operator asked to speak with an adult.

When he called back about three hours later, he repeated that his mother had passed out. Another operator said: "You shouldn't be playing on the phone.'' Later she said: "Now put her on the phone before I send the police out there to knock on the door and you gonna be in trouble.''

Police eventually arrived at the house after the second call, but Turner already was dead. An ambulance never came.

Fieger, best known for defending assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, said it was not the only case where operators discounted a plea for help. He cited a woman, whom Fieger also represents, who called 911 after she was shot in the head and was asked by an operator if she was a mental patient.

Fieger said she became paralyzed as a result of her injuries. A lawsuit was filed in October against Detroit dispatchers.

Messages seeking comment on the lawsuits were left Monday for city lawyer John Johnson. Detroit police have said they are investigating the 911 response in Turner's death.

Detroit's 911 service receives about 2 million calls a year, said police spokesman James Tate. A large portion of them are pranks or non-emergency situations for which 911 should not be used.

AP-CS-04-10-06 2102EDT

crazylady0827 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 04:14 AM

I have seen this story on our local news and its just sad. Another woman has also come forward with a lawsuit as well, after her calls to 911 went unanswered. She called 911 after her husband shot her in the head. The 911 operator never sent help and had the nerve to ask if she had mental problems. She couldn't believe someone shot in the head could be alive. The woman ended up calling her son in Minnesota and he called police. The woman has been left paralyzed due to inflamation on her spine that could have been prevented had help arrived. Attorney Jeffery Feiger has also stated that the operators of the two 911 calls bears a striking resemblence.

Catman Dude =^-.-^= · #3 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 05:12 AM

In Virginia Beach VA, 911 prank calls are chargable. You will get a bill from the city for the cost of responding to your false call.

bartongrl1 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 08:03 AM

I think that is an excellent idea. And on the other hand, it is not normally 5 or 6 year old children that do the pranking, its usually, I would think, teenagers.

ditchwitch · #5 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 08:56 AM

Anyone ever prank 911?

Like to your high school?

bartongrl1 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 03:19 PM

No i sure didnt. You trying to give kids ideas huh? rofl Back in the day, when i was in high school they didnt have 911, lol.