Response times and Liability

[lt/medic]

I am looking for case law, or news stories regarding the failure of the closest fire company to respond to a medical or fire incident.

This could have occured because the incident occured in a different jurisdiction, failure to get a timely response, or failure to notify the correct company.

Any help with this would be appreciated.

[Looper]

The City of Houston is being sued by the widow of a Houston Police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty. The issue is a 17 min response by the Houston Fire Department. This was caused by mistakes by the dispatchers. A hearing impaired dispatcher misunderstood the address and sent the ambulance about 40 blocks the wrong way on the street. Then dispatchers duped out several more 911 calls to the wrong address. It wasn't until another dispatcher recognized the name of the motel and knew the correct address. The officer died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

[This message has been edited by Looper (edited July 17, 2000).]

[Wabash Express]

There is a case in NC that was just settled a couple of months ago when a dispatcher failed to dispatch a structure fire for 8 minutes.

Please see the NC OEMS page for further @ http://www.co.rowan.nc.us/ncaemsa/pu...y_doctrine.htm

~mike