Tillie Tooter Sues Police, Rescue Agencies
Attorney Says Tooter Should Have Been Rescued Sooner
POSTED: 11:56 a.m. EST November 22, 2002
UPDATED: 12:02 p.m. EST November 22, 2002
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Tillie Tooter made headlines two years ago when she was rescued after being trapped upside down in her car for several days. Now she's suing the people who saved her.
Her attorney, Terry Rosenblum (pictured), believes the Florida Highway Patrol, Fort Lauderdale police and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue had information that should have led them to rescue Tooter sooner.
The initial 911 call led troopers to a spot a mile from where Tooter's car went over a concrete barrier, but Rosenblum says a second call should have zeroed them in.
"'I saw a car flip over the guardrail and spark.' That call was taken by Fort Lauderdale. They then in turn hung up, (the caller) tried to get FHP but couldn't," said Rosenblum.
The FHP insists it did what it could with the information it had at the time.
According to state law, Tooter can only recover $100,000 total from all three agencies. Her attorney said the suit is not about money, but about making sure troopers and rescuers do a better job.
Her attorney, Terry Rosenblum (pictured), believes the Florida Highway Patrol, Fort Lauderdale police and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue had information that should have led them to rescue Tooter sooner.
The initial 911 call led troopers to a spot a mile from where Tooter's car went over a concrete barrier, but Rosenblum says a second call should have zeroed them in.
"'I saw a car flip over the guardrail and spark.' That call was taken by Fort Lauderdale. They then in turn hung up, (the caller) tried to get FHP but couldn't," said Rosenblum.
The FHP insists it did what it could with the information it had at the time.
According to state law, Tooter can only recover $100,000 total from all three agencies. Her attorney said the suit is not about money, but about making sure troopers and rescuers do a better job.
Copyright 2003 by Click10.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.
A second man this year has fatally shot himself with a rented handgun at the Delray Shooting Center.
A shooting suspect is in police custody after one person is killed and at least five others are wounded, police say.
The Florida State Attorney General’s office is taking action against local used car dealers following a Local 10 investigation.
A man and a woman were killed Thursday night in what police are calling a "domestic-related shooting."
In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.
Eric Flack goes inside a controversial swingers club in suburban Cincinnati.
A 748-pound Mako shark was caught off South Florida's coast and it's all captured on video.
Wings Over Homestead is taking place this weekend at the Homestead Air Reserve Base.
A cat in Iowa is treated for swine flu after catching the virus from its owners.
More than two-dozen purebred dogs are up for adoption in South Florida after Midwestern breeders reached out to no-kill animal shelters to find them homes.
The New York Yankees parade through Manhattan to celebrate their World Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
One of the smallest babies ever born at Miami's Holtz Children's Hospital was finally able to go home Friday after spending eight months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
