Ruling soon on wrongful death lawsuit
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Dane County judge will decide by the end of next week whether to throw out a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents and fiance of Brittany Zimmermann.
Judge Maryann Sumi says she'll issue a written decision on, or before June 5 as to whether she'll dismiss the lawsuit or exclude any defendants.
Kevin and Jean Zimmermann and fiance Jordan Gonnering allege Dane County, County Executive Kathleen Falk and former 911 dispatcher Rita Gahagen were negligent in their duties and that resulted in the murder of the University of Wisconsin-Madison student at her apartment last year.
In April 2008, Zimmermann called 911, presumably for help, but the dispatcher did not send police or call back after being disconnected. Gonnering later found Zimmermann slain.
May 30, 2009 at 6:55 p.m.
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There is an issue with accountability though. People depend on the 911 system to get officers to the scene promptly. Whether or not they could track where the call came from seems fuzzy. Were they really able to pinpoint where the call came from? It originated from a cell phone - correct? They are not GPS-consistently traceable?
May 27, 2009 at 7:41 p.m.
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Both of the previous posts were based on sentiment and not on legal circumstances.
Emotionally, you are right. Legally, you don't have a leg to stand on.
May 27, 2009 at 5:44 p.m.
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I hope they DON'T throw out this lawsuit! Its about time some accountability be held over the 911 dispatch center. Kathleen Falk should also be held accountable. She didn't do HER job and in the interim, changes were made ONLY because this young woman died. It was bound to happen. I'm sad changes were not made, BEFORE Brittany Zimmermann called!
May 27, 2009 at 9:02 a.m.
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I do not believe it will get thrown out. It was pure negligence on that 911 operator. It has already been shown much room for improvement in that 911 center. We will never know if that incompetence by that 911 operator cost Brittany her life or not, because she DIED.. IT is also so hard to believe NO arrest has been made in her case or the Kelly Nolan case. Sad.
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