Syracuse Injury Lawyer Blog
On March 30, 2009, the Honorable David R. Demarest dismissed a negligence and wrongful death action filed against St. Lawrence County by the family of a New York State trooper killed in a 2007 shootout.
Justice Demarest ruled Monday that St. Lawrence County Probation Department was not negligent in the manner in which it handled a warrant for fugitive Travis Trim. Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff was shot and killed by friendly fire on April 25, 2007, during a gunfight that occurred during the execution of the warrant to arrest Trim. Trim was also killed.
Trooper Brinkerhoff’s family alleged that St. Lawrence County was negligent, careless and reckless in allowing Trim to remain free despite multiple probation violations. Our investigation revealed that a warrant for Trim was issued by a Canton Village Court on December 29, 2006. The warrant was faxed to the St. Lawrence County Probation Department on January 2, 2007; however, the Probation Department shredded the fax and waited for the official copy, which never arrived. Trim remained free.
Justice Demarest ruled that the Probation Department’s handling of the warrant for Trim several months before the shooting “was not a factor which indirectly produced the tragic result.”
The trial lawyers at Bottar Law, PLLC, have decades of experience investigating, prosecuting and trying to verdict all types of wrongful death cases, including those arising out of negligence, accidents and medical malpractice. If you have lost a loved one, your family may be entitled to compensation.
To discuss your case or concerns with an experienced Central New York wrongful death attorney, contact Bottar Law, PLLC now at (315) 422-3466, (800) 336-LAWS, or by e-mail at info@bottarleone.com.