© 2024 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ohio Supreme Court Hears Injury Lawsuit Over Police Chase

Ohio Supreme Court Gavel statue
Flickr
/
Creative Commons

The Ohio Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of a woman who sued police over injuries she suffered after a high-speed chase ended with a burglary suspect colliding with her car.

Attorneys for Pamela Argabrite argue that officers with Miami Township police in southwestern Ohio were guilty of "extreme and outrageous" conduct by continuing the 2011 chase.

Argabrite also argues that courts in Ohio have wrongly applied a higher standard of blame for police in chases than lawmakers intended.

Argabrite says the appropriate measure is whether officers were guilty of wanton or reckless conduct, not extreme and outrageous.

Police argue state law protects them from lawsuits and also that the suspect was the "proximate cause" of the woman's injuries.

The court plans a hearing next week.

The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers.