Comments on: “Thanks for saving my life. That’ll cost you $5 million.”

By: AMcA

AMcA — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:50:44 +0000

@CTrees – wouldn’t that be fun if TV would recognize that an integral part of a policeman’s job these days is getting sued? I could concoct a great plotline, with an impatient civil judge, a slothful criminal judge, and scheming lawyers using the defendant’s civil rights as sword against the cops.

By: William Nuesslein

William Nuesslein — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:03:25 +0000

My hobby horse: 40 years times $50,000 per year equals $2 million. How can Shane’s stress equal the lifetime earnings of two and a half average people. The demand insults all working and retired people, including me.

Some cleaver agent should be able to package the Shane’s story. A combination of Mrs. Shane with the police officer would be a talk show sensation.

By: CTrees

CTrees — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:38:14 +0000

Come to think of it, this would make a pretty good Law and Order episode. First half, tracking down the kidnapper. Second half, the officers getting sued.

By: Marni

Marni — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:29:59 +0000

Dramatized.

Best, most apt typo ever!!

By: Ron Miller

Ron Miller — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:37:33 +0000

Before we get too carried away here, let’s note that you have to provide notice to see the municipality. No lawsuit has been filed and may never be filed. It is unjust that such notice requirements exist in the first place.

That said, I think almost everyone would agree that such a lawsuit, if filed, would be utterly insane.

Fun fact: the woman’s lawyer is a former prosecutor.

By: mojo

mojo — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:04:11 +0000

“Dramatized”?

Where’d this legal eagle go to school? Walmart?

By: AMcA

AMcA — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:51:37 +0000

Yes, this one’s a motion to dismiss, and maybe even sanctions for the bottom feeding publicity seeking lawyer. the public duty rule is pretty much absolute, unless the gov’t defendant somehow seized control of the plaintiff and prevented her from looking after her own safety. That that might have occurred at a shopping mall does not seem likely.

Let’s hope the judge has the courage of his convictions and awards sanctions. These kinds of “get-my-name-in-the-paper” suits must be stopped. Lawyers this sleazy need publicity only when they are slapped down forcefully.

By: Don

Don — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:06:40 +0000

Held hostage by a prisoner? I think they might have suffered post-tramatic stress no matter what the cops did to resolve it.

Whether the police officer ended it with a gunshot or hug is irrelevant

By: wfjag

wfjag — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:29:03 +0000

Not that long ago something like this was part of the plot of the cartoon, comedy movie “The Incredibles”. Then we laughed at the absurdity of the idea of suing your savior who should be regarded as a hero. Life imitates art, as it moves from humor, to absurdity, to sorrow.

By: L. C. Burgundy

L. C. Burgundy — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 05:35:33 +0000

The government has generally been found not to owe any particular citizen a duty of any particular level of police protection at all, so I’m not sure how far this lawsuit will get.