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Pacific Ambulance Inc., California's Largest Independent Regional Non-Emergency Ambulance Provider, Found "Grossly Negligent" in Death of Local Orange County Man

$1,000,000 Orange County Jury Verdict

Santa Ana , July 24, 2013:

Late Wednesday afternoon, an Orange County Superior Jury rendered a $1,000,000 verdict against Pacific Ambulance, Inc. and one of its EMTs for the wrongful death of past Orange County all academic athletic star, 21 year-old Brett Weiner. The jury deliberated for more than 2 days after the 2 week trial.

During an attempted 5150 transport from Mission Hospital to College Hospital in Cerritos, a jury of 12 found that Pacific Ambulance, Inc. and one of its EMTs was grossly negligent in the application and monitoring of quick release soft restraints during the transport. As a result, Weiner was allowed to rid himself of the restraints and exit the rear of the ambulance. Moments later, he was subsequently struck and killed by a passing truck.

According to Mitch Jackson of Jackson & Wilson, Inc, the Weiner family attorney, it was discovered during the litigation process that 20 other patients had rid themselves from Pacific Ambulance's quick release soft restraints during a 3-4 year period before Brett's death. During trial one of defendants' witnesses testified that another 10 patients had also rid themselves of the soft restraints since Weiner's death.

Weiner was a popular and well-known Orange County athlete who played multiple sports while attending Tesoro High School. In addition to finding Pacific Ambulance, Inc. and its EMT at fault, the jury also determined that Weiner was zero percent at fault on the morning of his death (early accounts reporting that Weiner had committed suicide were incorrect).

According to Jackson, the family will be working closely with Orange County officials to update all EMS transport policies to help make sure this never happens to another OC family. More details surrounding this tragic case and trial events can be found at

http://jacksonandwilson.com/negligent-ambulance-wrongful-death/