Son sues over Katrina wheelchair death... who else thinks this is asinine??

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060818/ap_on_re_us/katrina_victim_lawsuit

Granted this is a sad story and I do feel very bad for his loss. BUT he thought it was "imprudent" to move his mother when the city called a mandatory evacuation!!! He waited until his house was flooded and then proceeded to move his mother. I don't think anyone should be accountable for her death because first off, she was old. Secondly if he would have followed the mandatory evacuation she may still be alive.

Does anyone else agree or do you think he has a valid arugement? I am not trying to be coldhearted. I just feel this case is unjustified because of HIS lack of reaction and NOT the governments But I do believe that were a lot of lives lost due to slow reaction of the government during Katrina, but if you didn't take necessary precautions as warned how can you blame someone else for your mistake...

Answer 1

I think that it is a rediculous lawsuit too. This case sounds very similar to those cases where people who try to sue the state when a guy out on parole and commits a crime against the person suing. These types of suits are just silly. The state is not responsible for everything. Sometimes, there is just bad luck. In this case, there was really bad luck. That doesn't mean that a person should be compensated for it.

Furthermore, this guy's lawyer probably didn't go to a very good law school because this case isn't worth the filing fees. When you sue on a negligent or wrongful death and you win, the damages that you get are based on the amount that the person is worth (I know, it sounds crass, but that's the only way to do it). The wrongful death of a 30 year-old neurosurgeon is going to be worth a lot more than the death of a 90 year-old person stuck in a wheel chair. Even if this suit does go through and the guy ends up winning, I find it highly unlikely that he will be getting very much money.

Answer 2

Yes, hindsight tells us that he should have obeyed the mandatory evacuation order, but considering her fragile condition (feeding tube, unable to assist herself, and her advanced age), his hesitance is understandable. If you accept the fact that the government's slow reaction was responsible for some deaths, then it can be reasonably argued that she was one of them. After all, she survived the flood and the transfer to the Convention Center. It was the long wait there in the extreme heat, for the buses that didn't come in a timely fashion that finished her off. She might have been better off staying in her flooded home, without the stress of unnecessary movement to a place where the conditions were no better, perhaps even worse. In the end, I agree that he carries a certain amount of responsibility, but so do the governmental agencies involved. It's a tough call.

Answer 3

As tragic as the story is, it's hard to get a lawsuit off the ground when the circumstances include natural disaster. It's difficult enough to bring suit against the state, but during Katrina, there wasn't much to be done. Her age should not factor into whether or not he has a case. As unfortunate as those events are, it is simply an example of what happens during times of crisis.

Answer 4

I rather have continuously theory that once everybody in the international dies...then perhaps God will recreate. and then we would be somebody new...its kinda exciting to think of you will be able to desire to be somebody well-liked in yet another life..yet additionally frightening...what whilst you're a undesirable individual who's locked up in detention center maximum of you life? So hmmm, definetly something to contemplate. reliable question!

Answer 5

I don't.....That poor woman was just pushed to the side and forgotten....I'm sure she was suffering not being able to get oxygen or the medication she needed...
Okay...they didn't move when they should have, but some people had no means to do so.....Granted she was 91 years old, but it is still horrific...No one expected things to get as bad as they did.....Put yourself in their shoes....God Bless them all....

Answer 6

I think he should be brought up on charges of manslaughter for not getting her out when he was warned to.