Legal news for California wrongful death attorneys. Family of fatally shot ER patient files wrongful death suit, in which they claim their dad was wrongfully shot.
A wrongful death lawsuit over the death of a man in an emergency room contends he was wrongfully shot.
San Francisco Bay, CA—The family of a Contra Costa Regional Medical Center patient who was fatally shot by a Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputy while inside the hospital’s emergency room has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, named Contra Costa County, the Sheriff’s Office, and deputies Kevin Morris and Robert Reichert as the defendants, according to information provided by the San Jose Mercury News.
Paul Hammon, 47, of Rio Vista, an Antioch businessman and alcoholic, checked himself into the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center around 7:00 p.m. on June 10 for chest pains and shortness of breath due to alcohol withdrawal. A nurse testified that Hammon was placed in soft writs restraints after he became agitated and attempted to pull out his intravenous line. Hammond then whipped out a folding pocket knife to cut himself from his restraints, and started jabbing the knife towards other people. Only Hammond’s left hand was free, while the right hand, which was holding the knife, was fully restrained. Deputy Morris and Reichert arrived at the scene around 2:00 a.m., and ordered Hammond to drop the weapon. Apparently Hammond jumped at the officers and the deputies fired five shots. The officers contended that he could be subdued by pepper spray.
The wrongful death lawsuit, which was filed by Hammond’s four children, contends that the officers did not ask the hospital staff about Hammond’s medical condition, and thus failed to recognize that he was experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for California lawyers handling police brutality and excessive force cases.
