Michigan Supreme Court hears arguments on 911 suits

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Supreme Court is hearing arguments about whether lawsuits against two 911 operators over their handling of calls from a 5-year-old boy should be dismissed.

Sharon Nichols was convicted of willful neglect of duty and served a year’s probation for her handling of the call. Then-5-year-old Robert Turner dialed 911 on Feb. 20, 2006, saying his mother had collapsed.

“My mom has passed out,” Turner is heard saying on the call.

Nichols accused him of playing games and didn’t send help.

Robert called back three hours later and Terri Sutton, another operator, scolded him but sent police.

“I don’t care. You shouldn’t be playing on the phone. Now put her on the phone before I send the police out there to knock on the door and you gonna be in trouble,” Sutton says in the call.

Officers found 46-year-old Sherrill Turner dead from an apparent heart condition.

Charges against Sutton were dismissed.

Robert’s relatives sued, claiming wrongful death and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The family’s lawyer, Heather Glazer, told the court Wednesday that the operators callously disregarded procedures.

“They can’t just dismiss a call within 43 seconds as defendant Nichols did without ascertaining those subjects and determine that it’s a prank,” she said.

Read the story here.

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