Judge clears Florida city in hospital wrongful death lawsuit

Hospital spokeswoman Sandi Poreda said the hospital appreciates that the court “continues to move this matter closer to resolution.”

Frances Scott, the personal representative of Dawson’s estate, filed the lawsuit last June.

On the day she died, Dawson was discharged from the hospital, but refused to leave because she said she was having difficulty breathing. John Tadlock, a white Blountstown Police officer, handcuffed her in the emergency room and she was charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. She collapsed when Tadlock tried to put her in a patrol car.

Drew Peacock, an emergency medical technician, and Jennifer Waldorff, a nurse, tried to help Tadlock get Dawson back into the car after she collapsed. Less than 20 minutes later, a doctor reassessed her and she was taken back to the emergency room. Dawson died about 90 minutes later.

The medical examiner’s office found that Dawson died from a blood clot due to being excessively overweight.

Tadlock resigned as a police officer last March , but Blountstown Police Chief Mark Mallory said the resignation was not related to the case. A state attorney ruled last year that Tadlock’s actions were “appropriate under the circumstances and there was no criminal law violation.”

Waldorff and Taylor were fired by the hospital. A search of Florida Department of Health records shows that Waldorff still has her nursing license after completing an eight-hour course in patient assessment.

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Judge clears Florida city in hospital wrongful death lawsuit

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