Rescuers Sue Woman They Pulled From Car
August 1, 2011 by UPI - United Press International, Inc.
MARION, Ohio, Aug. 1 (UPI) — Two Ohio men who rescued a woman from a burning vehicle are now suing her, saying they suffered permanent and disabling injuries during the rescue.
David Kelley and Mark Kinkaid of Marion filed a lawsuit against Theresa Tanner, alleging she was responsible for the accident that led to the rescue in which they were injured, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Police said Tanner told authorities she had argued with someone the day of the crash and wanted to end her life by veering off a road southeast of Marion in March 2009.
The lawsuit filed in Marion County Common Pleas Court seeks damages of at least $25,000 for each of the men.
The lawsuit is not unusual — rescuers sue those they helped more often than people think, legal experts said.
“The precedent is clear: Danger invites rescue … and if you’ve acted recklessly or negligently and someone gets hurt rescuing you, you could be in trouble,” said Stan Darling, a professor at Capital University Law School.
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