- Posted July 04, 2014
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Lifeguard can be sued in student's drowning
HASTINGS, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan appeals court says the family of a young man who drowned at a state-run school can sue the lifeguard.
William Beals had been at the Michigan Career and Technical Institute for a week when he drowned in a pool in 2009. Students with disabilities learn vocational skills at the school in Barry County.
Witnesses say lifeguard William Harmon seemed distracted that day while talking to girls and playing with a football. The 19-year-old Beals was considered a good swimmer, but he didn't emerge from the deep end of the pool.
The appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, agrees with a local judge who says allegations of gross negligence mean the lifeguard isn't entitled to governmental immunity.
Appellate Judge Peter O'Connell dissented, saying the lifeguard isn't to blame.
Published: Fri, Jul 04, 2014
headlines Oakland County
- Annual Meeting
- Oakland County clerk/register brings services to Highland Township and surrounding areas with June 4 local office visit
- Whitmer announces Wayne, Oakland, Macomb commit to expand Project DIAMOnD, calls for statewide expansion of “infrastructure for innovation”
- Oakland County completes work for first RainSmart resident
- SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK
headlines National
- This Los Angeles lawyer found her calling as a death doula
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Artificial intelligence tools for brief writing and analysis are a small firm litigator’s new best friend
- Baker McKenzie partner drops suit seeking IRS documents on partnership scrutiny
- Family members sue networks after learning of loved ones’ deaths by seeing bodies on TV
- Ex-BigLaw attorney once ‘consumed with remorse’ over $10M client theft sentenced in new scheme