A New Jersey driver was awarded nearly $13 million after being arrested by an officer who mistook her stroke for intoxication.
A New Jersey driver identified as Cheryl Lynn Rhines, 48, suffered a stroke while driving and was arrested by an officer who assumed she was intoxicated. The incident occurred on October 17, 2017.
Cheryl was awarded $12.9 million after filing a lawsuit against the New Jersey State Police.
According to NJ.com, the officer found the driver with vomit on her face and unresponsive, unable to answer yes-or-no questions. She was accused of faking her condition to the officer, who took her to jail.
The lawsuit described the officer’s behavior as “so outrageous and extreme that it exceeds all bounds of decency, being considered atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized society.”
It took more than two hours for someone to realize Cheryl was suffering from a stroke before she was taken to the hospital. Due to the delay, she lost part of her brain function, according to *The Independent*.
A trial in January held the state police’s conduct responsible. Initially, the institution was sued for $19.1 million, but part of the amount was reduced due to medical and other expenses.
The state of New Jersey argued that the officers acted in accordance with their training.
Photos: Instagram @newjerseystatepolice. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
