Brevard County Patient Abuse Case Resolved

Brevard County has reached a settlement with the patient who was injured last year when a paramedic flipped him off a stretcher after transporting him to the Weusthoff Medical Center.

The patient, James Slater, filed suit last month against Brevard County and former Brevard County Fire Rescue paramedic Kenneth Hallenbeck. Hallenbeck reportedly asked Slater to get off a backboard and when he did not he flipped the stretcher throwing Slater to the ground.

The incident was caught on video surveillance and resulted in felony charges against Hallenback. He was also fired from Brevard County and was required to surrender his paramedic license as a condition of a plea deal that avoided jail time.

The terms of the settlement were not released. According to Channel 9, Slater’s attorney, Derrick Connell reported that the case was “resolved amicably between the parties”.

 

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.
x

Check Also

Demoted Nashville Captain Awarded $1.8 Million

A former Nashville fire captain who was demoted over social media posts, has been awarded $1.8 million in damages by a federal court jury for violation of his First Amendment rights. Captain Tracy Turner claimed he was investigated and demoted because his posts “offended someone in the African American Community.”

Washington State Recruit Noose Case Dismissed

A lawsuit filed by an African American recruit firefighter in Washington state who had a noose placed around his neck by a fellow recruit, has been voluntarily dismissed. Elijah Page filed the action in federal court back in 2023 against the Clark County Fire District 6, three chief officers, a captain and former recruit John Erickson.