Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Nevada man who suffered respiratory arrest after medics administered ketamine to him in 2020, is suing the fire department, two medics and two police officers involved in the incident. Marc Galli filed suit last September against the city of Henderson, the medics and the police officers. The suit was removed to US District Court yesterday by the city because the allegations include federal civil rights violations.
Galli claims he was an otherwise healthy man on September 24, 2020, when he had a reaction to a prescribed medication that caused him to have difficulty breathing, disorientation, and vomiting. He called 911, leading to the response of the Henderson police and fire departments.
According to the complaint, medics laid him on a gurney and put him in the ambulance, which exacerbated his trouble breathing. He then claims medics became “situationally inappropriate, aggressive, and exhibited command and control as opposed to assistance” culminating in a threat to administer ketamine. That prompted Galli to exit the ambulance and return to his house.
Galli was tackled by the police officers and restrained until medics could administer Ketamine, which resulted in him going into respiratory arrest. He ended up on a ventilator in an ICU for three days.
The lawsuit alleges excessive force, due process violations, negligence, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Here is a copy of the complaint:
