3/9/00Police Chase Lawsuits
Families of two people killed in what their lawyer said was a police chase are suing the City of Detroit for more than $500 million dollars.
Lawyer Geoffrey Fieger said a police chase last month has left two families devastated."It has to be a law to say that these chases have to stop," Cheryl Ross, a victim's mother, said.
On February 25 on the city's east side, her son and his best friend were killed after the car were in was hit by a van which was reportedly being pursued by Detroit police. Lawyer Geoffrey Fieger said the reason was the van had no license plates. Fieger is suing the city for $500 million -- two separate lawsuits on behalf of the two families.
"This is a tragedy," Ross said. "My house is torn apart. This has to stop."
Fieger said hundreds of Americans are killed every year, as a result of a police chase.
"My office has represented at least 10 different families of people who have been innocently killed," Fieger said. "How much more slaughter are we going to allow?"
"That was my pride and my joy," Ross said of her son. "He brought so much love to my life."
A spokesperson for the Mayor Dennis Archer said the deaths were not the result of a police chase. He said that police terminated their pursuit of that van after two blocks and the van drove recklessly and fast, causing the terrible accident.
He said it is a tragedy and their hearts go out to the families, but he said the city is not liable.