LA County Sued for Wrongful Death in Apparatus Accident

Posted by: Curt Varone November 23, 2015 0

The family of a man killed last July in a collision with a Los Angeles County fire apparatus is suing the county and the driver for wrongful death.

Eric Stein, 36, was killed on July 31, 2015 when the car he was driving collided with a Los Angeles County Fire Department camp crew vehicle. His wife, Ksenia Rozen, was seriously injured in the crash. The couple was headed to a wedding rehearsal dinner for Stein’s brother at the time of the accident.

The lawsuit was filed on November 20, 2015 in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Rozen and Stein’s mother, Karen Kirn. It names the county and the driver of the camp crew vehicle, Michael Aplanalp, alleging the apparatus was speeding and “unsafely passing on the left on a two-lane highway.”

The camp crew vehicle was reportedly carrying 13 female inmate firefighters from Fire Camp 13 in Malibu. CHP reported that the vehicle was responding with its lights and siren at the time.

More on the story.

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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