The wife of an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department included Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Michel Moore, along with others, as defendants in a lawsuit filed against the city. It is alleged that her husband contracted typhus while on duty, and passed it on to her. She recently filed the personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reportedly ordered the city to address the unsafe working conditions at the Central Community Police Station, where the plaintiff’s husband is stationed. She alleges the city failed to take action. The plaintiff contended that her husband, as an LAPD officer, is frequently called out to areas where homeless people live in unsanitary conditions. She alleges the city authorities, including the defendants, were aware of the dangerous conditions but failed to take the necessary steps to resolve the matter.
The encampment to which her husband is frequently called has no toilets or bathing facilities, making it a breeding ground for rats and other health risks. Reportedly, the plaintiff’s spouse developed a high fever and became violently ill last June. He was diagnosed with typhus, and they believe a flea bite caused the illness. Then in October of last year, she was diagnosed with the same disease, causing headaches, fever, chills, malaise and sleeping problems.
The California workers’ compensation insurance program covers the medical costs and lost wages of LAPD officers who suffer workplace injuries or occupational diseases. However, the only way to recover damages for the LAPD officer’s spouse is to pursue a civil claim. The support and guidance of an experienced personal injury can be a valuable asset, and if the lawyer also has experience in dealing with workers’ compensation claims, both husband and wife, in this case, could benefit.