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NMMR: My Dad had an altercation while being a Good Samaritan
I know that no one can advise legally here. What I'm asking for are suggestions or possible questions to ask. Also, I'm asking for input on how to select an attorney to represent my dad.
This occurred last night in North eastern Ohio. My Grandfather, who I'll call Howard gets regular dialysis. My dad, went to pick him up after the treatment was complete. In the waiting area with Howard, was a woman, I'll call Nancy. Nancy is also a dialysis patient and was quite ill/weak. Her taxi had arrived, and it being cold and poor weather, my dad, escorted Nancy to the taxi.
My dad is, in a word, honorable. He is a helper. Patient. Kind. And he has no mean bones in his body. Also, he is 70 years old, has lost muscle tone, and is only about 5'9" tall. He is former Army and was raised in a time of displaying respect, chivalry, and honor.
So, he took Nancy outside to the waiting taxi and opened her door and helped her get in. While doing this he told the cab driver, who I'll call Mike, that Nancy needed assistance and was very weak. Mike said, "I don't do stuff like that, I'm doing paperwork." Again, my dad asked Mike to assist the lady and more or less informed Mike that Nancy was ill and may require help. Again, Mike said, "I don't do that. I'm doing paper work." So, my dad ignored Mike and continued to help Nancy get settled in the cab. Meanwhile, Mike excited the vehicle and came to my dad and got in his face. Like Mike didn't appreciate that my dad was assisting the lady and it somehow pointed out Mike's poor manners and bad attitude. Anyway, it escalated verbally and then Mike pushed my dad.
My dad, realed backwards, caught his fall and put up his hands.
Then, Mike fell down and he laid there and allegedly couldn't get up.
My dad called an ambulance for Mike, and with the ambulance the police arrived, and a report was taken. My dad went home with Howard. Howard never saw a thing.
Crap all around. Because it's looking like Mike is accusing my dad of pushing him. And/or, Mike is going to say that he was injured.
My dad called his insurance company. I don't know the extent of my dad's insurance coverage at this time.
Anyway, does anybody have any ideas? Or opinions? My dad has a lot of assets. How would he protect these? Is there a way to see if Mike has a history of filing crap lawsuits? And, what should my dad look for in an attorney? And, how will we know what's going to happen next? What's the process with something like this?
This breaks my heart. My dad would give his clothes off his back for someone else - even someone he didn't know. He just doesn't deserve this.
Re: NMMR: My Dad had an altercation while being a Good Samaritan
Yeah I agree that I do not think Good Samaritian Laws apply here as the issue is between Mike (taxi driver) and my dad, not my dad and Nancy (the ill woman).
I know my dad and I can imagine that he had a polite yet advisory tone (he was an officer in the Army and is currently a VP at a company) with Mike as he explained that Nancy was ill/weak. My dad would have been very diplomatic and probably said something to the effect of, "Hey this woman needs help and please help her, okay?" When the guy refused my dad probably got a little stiff and still polite would have asked him again but would have been more direct. That's how I imagine it, anyways.
I did learn that Nancy in her statement said that Mike pushed my dad first. After Mike had gotten out of the vehicle and got into my dad's face.
My dad is always looking out for the "little guy." In this case, the ill woman, Nancy. And, I think he got caring and protective of her towards Mike who didn't want to do a thing to help. I think Mike reacted nastily to my dad's imploring for help.
I'm running this over in my head, I know my dad is not a hot-head. I also know he wants to be sure folks get the care they need. I think he took a defensive/protective posture for Nancy's benefit and Mike got irked by that because the implication is that Mike was an a$$. It's possible my dad made Mike feel like the a$$ he is and Mike didn't like that feeling so he jumped out, got in my dad's face, and pushed him.
Anyway, I think of all the times I myself or people I hear of take a stand to do what's right. Do we say nothing simply because the person we're pointing out as doing the wrong thing gets upset? Mike got angry with my dad. Maybe Mike had a "right" to be irked. I think Nancy had the right to decency. I think my dad had a right to voice displeasure and urging at Mike's refusal to help - Mike is after all, the PROFESSIONAL being hired here as the taxi driver. People ought to be able to voice displeasure over their treatment as customers or potential customers if they see or hear something unfit. Regardless of feelings, my dad did not deserve to be pushed.
I hope this just ends and goes no further.
If this turns into a lawsuit or even charges for assualt, have your dad get a lawyer. A lawyer can contact the facility to see if they security cameras that may have caught the event & if so draw up paper work needed to obtain a copy of the tapes. He may want to do that part ASAP just because with most information being digital, sometimes businesses only keep their tapes for 30 days. Better to get a copy of the tape now & store it then risk it not being available by time it goes to court if it goes that far.