LOCAL UPDATE Fieger To Represent Boy Whose 911 Call Considered Prank

from WDIV Detroit TV 4

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger filed a multimillion-dollar, wrongful-death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a Detroit boy who called 911 to get help for his mother, but was denied because the operator thought the call was a prank.

Fieger said Sherrill Lynn Turner died as a result of the actions of a 911 operator in Detroit, and the attorney said the incident was not an isolated occurrence in the city of Detroit.

In the lawsuit filed on behalf of the Turner family Monday, Robert and his sister -- and now guardian -- Delaina Patterson, were present. Fieger said that Robert, 6, "did exactly what he had been taught to do by his mother."

Robert called 911 twice on Feb. 20 to get help for his mother, who had passed out on the kitchen floor of their home, Local 4 reported. The boy called 911, but was questioned by the operator who believed it was a prank.

Robert told the operator that his mother could not talk. He was scared by what the operator told him, so he hung up the telephone, unaware that his mother died.

Fieger and Robert appeared on NBC's "Today Show" Sunday morning to discuss the incident. Fieger said Sherrill Turner had an enlarged heart, but had a very good opportunity to survive.
"Had they responded immediately at that first call, just before 6 p.m., she certainly would have survived," said Fieger.

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully Cummings promised a thorough investigation of the operator's response.