A driver from New Jersey received an almost $13 million settlement after being mistakenly arrested by a state trooper who thought she was drunk but was actually having a stroke. The confusion led to a significant delay in getting the urgent medical attention she needed.
Cheryl Lynn Rhines, now 57 years old, was in the midst of a stroke on October 17, 2017. She had stopped her car on Route 78 while driving from Jersey City to work in Florham Park. This information comes from her lawsuit against the New Jersey State Police, as reported by NJ.com and the New Jersey Monitor.
A trooper found her about 30 minutes later with vomit on her face, and she was only able to answer questions with a “yes” or “no.”
Despite showing symptoms of a stroke like facial drooping and loss of motor function, the trooper accused Rhines of pretending and took her into custody. She was also struggling with droopy eyelids and difficulty maintaining her balance.
The state of New Jersey argued the trooper followed police training while handling Rhines’ situation, but a jury found the trooper guilty. (New Jersey State Police)
She was initially awarded $19.1 million – $5 million for pain and suffering, $6 million for emotional distress, $6.5 million for medical care and $1.6 million for loss of income – but the total was later reduced because of her pre-existing condition, according to NJ.com.
Nearly $350,000 in medical expenses and more than $1 million in other related costs were added to the final payment, which ended up being about $12.9 million, the outlet noted.
