Posted on 08/17/2006 8:54:25 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Today: August 17, 2006 at 8:45:37 PDT
Son Sues Over Katrina Wheelchair Death
By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The son of a 91-year-old woman who died in her wheelchair while waiting to be rescued from the city's Convention Center in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina sued the city and state Thursday.
Herbert Humphrey Jr.'s lawsuit accuses numerous state agencies and the city of New Orleans of willful misconduct in the death of his mother, Ethel Freeman. It was filed in state Civil District Court in New Orleans.
The Convention Center had been overwhelmed with desperate evacuees, many of the elderly or ill. After she died, Freeman's body was pushed to one side and covered with a poncho.
Humphrey's lawyer, John Paul Massicot, said Freeman was instructed to go the fetid Convention Center.
"Let's not forget, she survived the storm. The storm didn't get her. She didn't survive the rescue," Massicot said.
'The point isn't to rescue people. The point is to figure out whose fault it is.'
...and we all know whose fault it is!
Just curious, but if the son was so concerned about his mother, why did he leave her in N.O. for the hurricane?
It was because of Rove's Weather Machine that this hurricane occured. Ya know that don't ya?
I was thinking the same thing. It would be a dangerous precedent if he wins. People were told to leave the city. If he wins it would set a precedent that the city/county/state is responsible for their wellbeing even if they ignore a mandatory evacuation.
Exactly. Want to know if he was local.
I'm sorry, he sued whom?
Herbert Humphrey Jr.'s lawsuit accuses numerous state agencies and the city of New Orleans of willful misconduct in the death of his mother, Ethel Freeman. It was filed in state Civil District Court in New Orleans.
That's what I thought you said.
Yep. I also can't help but wonder what he was doing after the hurricane was over. Did he make any attempt to get in there and rescue her or did he decide that was the govenment's job?
EXACTLY. When my mother grew too frail to live alone, I brought her out from California to live with me. After she had a stroke, and had to move to an assisted living facility, I found an excellent one in my town. If there'd been a hurricane or any other danger that required evactuation, my first priority would have been rescuing her.
Maybe there are extenuating circumstances about which I don't know, but it looks to me like this guy has abandoned personal responsibility and thinks the govt is supposed to do his job for him. It horrifies me to think of the terror and suffering his mother must have experienced as she watched her death approach.
LOL I read that. :-)
My thoughts exactly. However, she may have been one of the senior citizens who refused to leave. The majority of people who died in Katrina were senior citizens who refused to leave because they had stayed for all the other hurricanes with no problems. If that was the case, then don't sue anyone. It was her own decision that caused her death.
Yeah, if it was my mother, no one would have kept me from getting in there.
He'll win--this is New Orleans.
The woman was 91 so there are plenty of potential causes of death that would have nothing to do with the storm or how long she waited for rescue.
Anyone have more detail? or was it Death by Waiting?
She obviously would have lived many more years if it wasn't for the horrid rescue.
Oh wait, she was 91. Sounds like it was her time to go.
It also sounds like the son doesn't want to accept the fact that at the end of her life he wasn't there for his mom.
If he wins in court he might not feel so guilty.
I was wondering the same thing.
Remember the Councilman? that was crying telling the story of his mother calling him saying, "Sonny, come get me." Turned out it was all a lie.
I thought Diebold had something to do with it as well?
Was I misinformed?
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