I just don't understand this one!

[Assistant16]

I can remember waking up last July 4th morning to news footage of firefighters digging through the rubble of a collapsed home looking for 3 of their own. These men died in an attempt to rescue 3 young girls from the fire. Almost a year later the mother of these three children has decided it's time to sue several fire departments that were on scene, and the county's training academy.

For more on this story see:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/new...y/m061203b.htm

While a recent report shows that there were some mistakes made during the incident, I find it unreal that this lady may actually be able to sue the responders that came to help her and her family. This is more than we can say about her partner Frank Slack who made a heck of a effort to make sure that HE got out of the fire unharmed. I guess we'll see what happens next.

[FireCapt1951retired]

This is a situation that is becoming quite common. There are more than a few cities here where individuals have sued their local fire departments. Detroit has had about 27 lawsuits filed aginst it in the last 3-4 years as have other depts in the state (all paid depts). Most fire departments should be aware that the slimey lawyers are all over this but then again we are a suing society, aren't we!

[Halligan84]

A-16, since your from the area you have probably seen the local news reports. Right from the beginning there were questions on how the 2 of them were tearing through the thousands and thousands of dollars donated to them in the aftermath of that fire. I think at one point the bank had to step in and set up some sort of program for them to access the money. I suppose they have run out of public generosity and now are looking for the courts to pay them for a situation that they caused.

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

Typical

Adults leaving children behind in a fire. I have seen it and it makes me shake my head. I am sure that there were plenty of "ambulance chasers" chomping at the bit to try and get their pockets lined.

[superchef]

I cannot understand how someone could want to sue a fire department that responded to a fire in their home and lost three firefighters while attemping to save their children. These "adults" left their children behind in a fire and now they want to sue?

It is a very sad state when people start wanting to sue those who are out there to protect us. The Fire Service faces more than enough challenges and now to add to it, sue happy people who want to seek damages for something that was probably their fault? I just have to shake my head (and go back to my chapter on torts to try and understand this one).

[Adze39]

To the bro's from Jersey: What's the general public's attitude toward this down there?

[NJFFSA16]

How unfair. This mother learns of details in a report by the NJ Dept. of Labor....and seizes a window of opportunity. It is a desperate act by a shameless individual.

Report Blames Lack of RIT, PASS Devices, Training and Communication

Defendants named in the claim are Gloucester City, its fire department and Fire Chief William Glassman; the county firefighter academy; Camden City and its fire department; and the boroughs of Mount Ephraim and Brooklawn and their fire departments.

Our brothers died attempting to save these 3 young girls. May God grant the defendants strength to deal with this lawsuit.

I will endeavor to keep you posted on the progress of this case.

I myself, am not close to this community, however, there are some members that reside in the immediate area...and I do hope you can give us some insight into the feelings of those affected by this case.

I can only imagine the stunned look on their faces.

[Assistant16]

Yeah, what's next? Sue the families of the firefighters that died that day. These people were strange from the get go, and rumor has it that dad was looked at for possibly causing the fire with a cigarette however, it couldn't be proven. Nonetheless I would think that anyone would have given life or limb to try and get their kids. On the other hand, I am also under the impression that there was fire from every window upon arrival of the first due units. Probably nobody was going to make a save that night.

I'm not sure how the general public feels about this case, but just this morning I have spoken to several firefighters and the general feeling ranges from not surprised to really P***ed off. I've had the opportunity to meet several firefighters from Mt. Ephiram and surrounding departments in the past year, and I'm interested in hearing what they have to say. It has got to hurt so close to the one year anniversary. Yet unfortunately I guess the fire service is somehow responsible for the results of the fire in this lady's home.

I'll do my best to keep up on the story and report in often.

[NJFFSA16]

Thanks Assistant 16!

Originally posted by Assistant 16
I'll do my best to keep up on the story and report in often.

Thank you...I, and many others, will deeply appreciate it!

[superchef]

Assistant 16
I am in the general public and although I may be in San Franciso, I do try and keep up with the stories I see here. As I said above, it saddens me that these people somehow think the fire departments are responsible for the deaths of their childen. What is society coming to when they start bringing lawsuits against the emergency responders who come to their aid?
It is a tragic loss both for the loss of the children and the loss of three firefighters.

May all of them rest in peace.

[mdoddsjffhnfc]

Ok, when i read this story in the Courier-Post this morning my anger just built up so much that it could have blown my apartment away! I remember that morning hearing about the fire on the news and from my dad who heard from another member and good friend of the family about the fire and the deaths of the 3 children and the 3 Firefighters. As you can see, my sig is in rememberence of the 3 firefighters who died, and it has been there since July 7th of 2002.

This women should be the one who is being sued. She and her partner were careless. They say that a possible cause of this fire was from the dad smoking and then falling asleep on the couch. He states that he was in bed with the kids. Also, the mom was known to take meth, so she may have been the one to start the fire. This story has the Departments of Camden County up in arms! Now we're going to be going into fires knowing that if something goes wrong that we may get sued!

Boy i can't wait to hear what my Captain says. He knew Chief Sylvester and Deputy Chief/CFM 6 very well. This women deserves to be run out of this state!

[Weruj1]

another thing that makes you say "HUH" ? unbelieveable ......more so since there were LODD's there ......... how sad

[Gx7E10]

[codeblue81]

Now I don't know about the rest of you but I'd be more than willing to help out with the Chief's and the dept's legal fees. This is beyond stupidity. I don't see how any human being can even think to file a lawsuit over the very people who attempted to save thier children. I guess I need to get out of this small town and see the real world


code_blue81

[Bones42]

Now we're going to be going into fires knowing that if something goes wrong that we may get sued

You should have known this all along. People can sue you for just about anything. Of course, if you do nothing wrong, chances are in your favor that the lawsuit will fail. IF (and not saying anyone did) you screw up, you will be held accountable for it.