Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A woman who was injured by a hose being dragged by a Dallas fire truck has filed suit against the city and the driver. Doris Ann Wattley filed suit in Dallas County District Court naming the City of Dallas and firefighter Levon Douglas.
The incident occurred on July 10, 2021 as Wattley was walking to her car. She claims that hose came loose from the fire vehicle described as a “2008 Red Spartan Motors Firetruck motor vehicle.” The hose struck several parked vehicles, a mail box, and Wattley. Quoting from the complaint:
- On July 10, 2021, Plaintiff was walking to her car which was parked on Kiest Ridge Dr. in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas when Defendant Levon Douglas operating a 2008 Red Spartan Motors Firetruck motor vehicle traveling North on Kiest Ridge Dr. when the fire hose came lose [sic] and struck the left front quarter on Unit 2 a parked car.
- Defendant Levon Douglas continued North which caused the hose to strike the right distributed and top damage of unit 3.
- The hose then struck a mail box, tore if out of the ground, struck the left front quarter and hood of unit 4 a parked car and then struck Plaintiff who was walking to her car and continued to strike the left back quarter and top of unit 6, a parked car.
- As a direct and proximate result of the wrongful and negligent conduct of Defendants, Plaintiff suffered injuries, damages and medical expenses within the jurisdictional limits of this Court.
- The governmental unit is liable because the employee acted within the scope of his or her authority but, in the alternative, if that the employee acted independently and is individually liable.
The suit alleges negligence, negligent entrustment, respondeat superior, and employer negligence (negligent hiring, supervision and training of Douglas). Here is a copy of the complaint:
