Lighthouse Group Sued By Cop
By Sue Clark on Jan 6, 2008 in Featured, Opinion 
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Injured On Duty
A Saugerties police officer, Sydney Mills and his wife Amy, has sued the Lighthouse Conservancy for injuries he received while responding to a “boater in distress” call in the village. Although he was paid Worker’s Compensation, he filed suit in August for the injuries, claiming the Conservancy failed to properly maintain the trail and failed to warn users of “the dangerous and defective condition of the nature trail.” His wife is also a party to the lawsuit, claiming the incident has deprived her of the support provided by her husband.
According to the story in the Daily Freeman, Officer Mills was responding to the call at about 9 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2007, when he fell and “sustained severe and disabling injuries” that are permanent and cause “substantial pain.” An email sent by former Conservancy board member Gil Hales has asked Saugerties residents to speak out against this lawsuit at the upcoming Village Board meeting. The story has it as January 7, but the regular meeting is January 9, according to the Saugerties website.
Ramifications of This Lawsuit
Besides the local ramifications of limiting access to this light on the Hudson River, if this lawsuit is allowed to go on, other lighthouse groups will find their insurance cancelled, or the rates go so high they won’t be able to afford to allow the access to our lighthouses. Insurance companies don’t like risks, and as hard as it is to get liability insurance on lighthouses, this will for all intents and purposes end the ability of many groups to acquire it affordably. If any insurance company will even offer it. Right now, many insurance companies in my area (Maine) refuse to insure homes on islands, and that’s just for property damage, let alone liability.
Not the First Time
This is not the first time a cop has sued private citizens for injuries received while on duty. Check out this story from Florida: Cop who fell on the job sues family of baby who almost drowned. Fortunately, that lawsuit was eventually dropped and the cop was dismissed. And of course, that particular officer drew Workmen’s Compensation from the state also. I cannot understand how someone who has a duty to respond can come off suing private individuals or groups when they themselves fail to use due care and diligence. Especially since most states actually prevent a citizen from suing an officer for failure to respond.
What Can We Do?
Since phone numbers and email adresses are freely available on the Saugerties government website, perhaps we might send messages supporting the Lighthouse Conservancy in their request for support.
- Village Board Members:
- Fred Costello Jr 914-466-4080
- Leanne Thorton 914-246-5652
- Nancy Campbell 914-246-0553
- Bruce Leighton 845-246-0871
Photo Credit: Saugerties Lighthouse by petit hiboux on Flickr (Creative Commons)
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More About Lighthouse Lawsuit
- Lighthouse Group Sued By Cop
- Citizens Protest Cop-Lighthouse Lawsuit
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