East Garfield Park Fire Victim’s Family Sues Chicago Fire Department for Wrongful Death
The family of Crosby Lipscomb is suing the Chicago Fire Department for Cook County wrongful death. Lipscomb died during a fire at his home on April 6, 2009.
According to the plaintiffs’ Chicago, Illinois wrongful death complaint, firefighters failed to properly search the residence to check for anyone that might be alive. Relatives discovered Lipscomb’s body when they kicked in the door to his home two days after the blaze.
Lipscomb, a retired 58-year-old Chicago Board of Education janitor, died from some inhalation. His family is seeking over $50,000 in Chicago wrongful death recovery.
Following Lipscomb’s death, firefighters were disciplined over their failure to find him and the Chicago Fire Department changed its fire search rules. Specific fire companies must now be tasked with searching designated areas of a building that caught fire. These companies have to stay in radio contact with commanders on the scene and update them about the searches. Command staff must track the searches in writing. Also, battalion chiefs have had to “refresh” firefighters on how to search during fires.
Firefighters cannot afford to make any mistakes when attempting to put out a fire. Breach of duty, negligence, mistakes, carelessness, or recklessness can lead to serious injuries and lives lost during a fire. A blaze may even end up spreading to other properties, causing additional property damage and personal injuries.
It can be tough to prove that firefighter negligence took place. A plaintiff will likely have to prove that firefighters neglected to do their job properly, made the situation worse, or were negligent in some other way. This is not a Chicago injury or wrongful death case that you want to pursue without an experienced Cook County personal injury law firm representing you.
Chicago Fire Department Hit With Wrongful Death Suit, Chicago Tribune/Firefighting News, April 7, 2010
Fire search rules altered after body overlooked, Chicago Breaking News, May 27, 2009
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