PORT HURON (AP) - St. Clair County officials have immunity in a lawsuit related to the death of a jail inmate who was struck by a tree while on a work crew.
In 2010, James Dudley had volunteered to clear vegetation from a drain known as the Emmet Drain when a tree 10 feet away fell and killed him. His family sued the St. Clair County drain commissioner and other officials on many grounds, including a failure to provide safety equipment.
But in 2-1 decision, the Michigan appeals court ruled against Dudley's estate, saying there was no evidence of gross negligence.
Judge Douglas Shapiro disagreed. He says a jury should be allowed to sort out whether a lack of hardhats was the fault of a county employee who was later suspended.
Published: Tue, Mar 10, 2015
