Tuesday, May 31, 2011

** Family of beaten California paramedic sues Dodgers

** Virginia paramedic headed to jail after drug conviction

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The family of a California paramedic, beaten by a gang member last March outside Dodgers Stadium, is suing the organization and its owner. That is the word from the Associated Press (May 24) which said relatives of Bryan Stow contend a lack of security outside the facility may have contributed to his injuries. Stow, who works for American Medical Response in Santa Clara, remained in a medically induced coma for nearly two months;although brought out of the state, he is still contending with traumatic brain injury. The lawsuit comes at a bad time for team owner Frank McCourt. In the midst of a difficult divorce, he is also apparently cash strapped when it comes to his players’ payroll.

** A Virginia paramedic will be cooling his heals in jail for the next six months, after being convicted of stealing pain medication from a female amputee. The Free-Lance Star (Cathy Dyson/May 28) said King George County practitioner Michael Brandon Garner, 44, was originally sentenced to seven years in the clink but the majority of the time was suspended. According to the newspaper, Garner returned to the home of patient Billie Morrison to pilfer her Percocet after initially being hailed to treat her. Using the ruse that he was merely checking on her, his third visit to the house resulted in Morrison finding all of her medication gone. Suffering from a longstanding drug abuse problem, Garner has a 2002 conviction on his record for stealing gasoline. In December of 2010, he was also charged with marijuana possession. Domestic abuse has additionally been an issue.