Oregon Widow Seeks $4.2 Million Over Defibrillator Failure Death

Posted by: Curt Varone April 23, 2015 0

A widow has filed a $4.2 million suit against an Oregon fire department, an ambulance service, and the manufacturer of a defibrillator blaming them all for the death of her husband who suffered a fatal heart attack last year.

Diana Ricks filed suit against Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Metro West Ambulance Service and Physio-Control, Inc. over the February 13, 2014 death of Stephen A. Ricks. Stephen suffered a heart attack to which six firefighters from Hillsboro Fire & Rescue responded.

According to the complaint, a fire department Lifepak 12 failed to deliver a shock for nearly 14 minutes, during which time personnel made 7 different attempts. A Metro West Ambulance eventually arrived on scene with a different defibrillator but that defibrillator was never used. The firefighters were eventually successful in getting the device to operate on the 8th, 9th and 10th attempts, at which point Stephen converted to normal sinus rhythm.

According to the complaint:

  • Because of the fourteen (14) minute delay in administering therapeutic defibrillation, which converted Mr. Rick’s ventricular fibrillation to a sinus tachycardia at 8:54 a.m., Mr. Ricks’ heart sustained significant irreversible damage, and he was unable to survive despite appropriate medical intervention at two local hospitals. Mr. Ricks died on February 22, 2014.

The suit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court last Thursday. The family is seeking damages totaling just over $4.2 million.

Here is a copy of the suit: Ricks v Hillsboro

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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