Mich. jury acquits man of charges when several become sick after handshakes
A jury acquitted a man who had been charged with assault after authorities said an assistant prosecutor, police officer and courtroom bailiff got sick after shaking hands with him.
John Curtis Ridgeway, 42, was seen pulling out a vial of liquid and rubbing his hands with the contents after a December jury trial in which he was found guilty of driving without insurance, authorities said.
The assistant prosecutor, Amanda Swanson, became suspicious and tried to avoid contact when Ridgeway offered his hand for a handshake. Ridgeway insisted on shaking hands with her, the police officer who pulled him over and a bailiff, authorities said.
The three got sick within an hour or so, according to testimony. Symptoms, which lasted about 24 hours, included nausea, headaches, numbness and tingling. Two of the three went to the hospital.
Ridgeway told The Associated Press after he was charged that the substance was olive oil. He testified that he used oil to anoint “corrupt buildings” and that it was meant to rid the buildings of demons.
He was acquitted of assaulting a police officer and two counts of assaulting a public officer. If convicted, he could have faced six years in prison.
Prosecutor Keith Kushion declined to comment. Defense lawyer William Shirley said Ridgeway had not intended to harm anyone.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Ohio jury awards family of brain-damaged girl $17.8 million
The family of a Columbus, Ohio, girl, now five years old, whose brain was damaged as doctors prepared her for surgery was awarded more than $17.8 million in one of Ohio’s largest medical-malpractice awards. The money is to cover future medical costs, education and pain and suffering of Alexis Hayes, who was an infant when doctors at Columbus Children’s Hospital sought to remove a benign cyst from her on Sept. 25, 2001.
Her parents, Randy Jackson and Myrtle Hayes of Columbus, hugged each other and cried as Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Guy Reece read jury verdicts finding an anesthesiologist and her company negligent. Alexis cannot speak, has cerebral palsy and will use a wheelchair for life.
“I’m so glad it’s over,” Jackson said of the three-week trial. “I knew it was a strong case.”
The verdicts include $800,000 for each parent and $16,254,000 for Alexis. A court-appointed lawyer will act as guardian for the child and determine how her money is spent.
Lawyers for the anesthesiologist argued that Alexis must have had a heart condition that had not been detected.
The girl’s blood pressure and heart rate dropped as she was being given anesthesia, medical records show. The medical team gave her stimulants and performed CPR for at least one minute. Once she was stabilized, Benoit tried to anesthetize her again, a mistake that resulted in permanent brain damage, according to the family’s attorneys, Thomas J. O’Connell and Lawrence Abramson.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Ohio
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