Christmas has twice come and gone since Wayne Coulter last saw Lindsey Stahl alive.
The hurt hangs in his voice as he talks about life without the girl he helped raise since she was a toddler. Words of anger, frustration and sadness come next. They catch in his throat as he tries to rationalize how Lindsey's life and the lives of five others were taken in Wisconsin's most extreme, deadly case of officer-involved domestic violence.
Fourteen-year-old Lindsey died on Oct. 7, 2007, in the small, northern Wisconsin town of Crandon. Jarred by the news that his former girlfriend was seeing someone new, 20-year-old Tyler Peterson, an officer employed by the Crandon and Forest County departments, went to the home of his former girlfriend. Upon entering the apartment, he opened fire with an assault rifle on all seven people who were there for a pizza party. A standoff ensued between Peterson and his friends on the force. Peterson eventually killed himself with a pistol.
Now, the families of three of the six victims and the sole survivor of the shooting have filed a civil suit against the police departments that employed Peterson. The suit charges that the police chief and sheriff knew that Peterson had shown a pattern of domestic violence and abuse of authority but did nothing about it.
Before Forest County denied the initial claim that preceded the lawsuit. County Corporation Counsel Paul Payant told the Associated Press that the Sheriff's Department had no way of knowing that Peterson was capable of such violence.
Bitter feelings continue to swirl around the community, even toward the families of the victims. Coulter said they have anonymously been receiving "nasty letters saying we should drop the suit, and we should be hanging our heads in shame.
"It's pretty rough living up here now."
News of the crime in Crandon rang out far beyond the small town's borders; even the Los Angeles Times reported on the story. The crime not only received national exposure, but put faces to a grim reality of the law enforcement community, a reality seldom discussed outside internal affairs offices or among officers themselves.
Yet those in the know -- the officers, prosecutors and domestic violence advocates -- have become increasingly aware of the higher prevalence of domestic violence in the families of law enforcement officers.
The National Center for Women and Policing cites two studies from the mid-1990s that have found at least 40 percent of police officer families experience domestic violence, defined as verbal, psychological or physical abuse, in contrast to 10-20 percent of families in the general population. The studies are well-regarded and often cited by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates locally and nationally.
In the Madison area, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said two officers had been disciplined internally for domestic violence incidents in the past year, but no criminal charges were brought against them. They are still on the force. Following an open records request, the Madison Police Department reported that one officer has been fired or suspended for domestic violence in the past five years. That was Russell Henderson, who was fired in 2006.
In Wisconsin, nobody is keeping track of the problem. Unless an officer shoots or severely abuses someone, news about an incident will rarely make its way out of internal affairs, and no state agency collects the data.
Read This Full Wisconsin Wrongful Death Article Here....
WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- A 53-year-old Marshfield man was in critical condition Tuesday after he attempted to kill himself in the Wood County Jail.
At 5:12 a.m. Tuesday, Wood County corrections officers were conducting routine cell checks when they discovered an inmate had attempted to commit suicide, Wood County Sheriff's Department Investigator-Sgt. Jay Shroda said.
The man was taken to Riverview Hospital, then transferred to Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, Shroda said.
The man's identity is being withheld, pending notification of family.
Although the incident remains under investigation, preliminary indications are authorities followed proper procedures, said Shroda, who added common checks of inmates were being done in a timely manner.
On July 9, Richard A. Lordson killed himself in the Wood County Jail two day after he was sentenced to a year in jail for possession of child pornography. Attorney David Skoglind of Mequon, representing Lordson's family, has taken the first steps required to file a Wisconsin wrongful death lawsuit against the county in connection with the 28-year-old man's death.
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Dallas mesothelioma cancer attorney, Witherite, reports Wisconsin wrongful death widow files wrongful death claim. The lawsuit names 109 defendants responsible for spouse’s occupational asbestos exposure.
November 13, 2008, Dallas, Texas (JusticeNewsFlash.com)–Experienced Dallas, Texas, Wisconsin wrongful death attorney, Amy Witherite, reveals Doris Piacentine, a Wisconsin resident, recently filed a mesothelioma cancer wrongful death lawsuit recently in Illinois. Piacentine claims Her husband died as a result of a chronic pulmonary illness he contracted due to years of occupational exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma cancers develop from direct and secondary exposure to asbestos. Edward C. Piacentine, Doris’s late spouse, was diagnosed with plural mesothelioma on March 16, 2007. He died two months later on May 23, 2008, according to the lawsuit filed in Illinois’ Madison County Circuit Court. The lawsuit names 109 defendant companies and employers stating her husband developed pleural mesothelioma after continuous occupational exposure to asbestos containing products.
The educated Dallas County mesothelioma cancer attorney, Witherite, outlines the following key complaints in the asbestos lawsuit:
-Edward was employed over 43 years in the following positions: meat packer, U.S. Navy corpsman, construction worker, truck driver and electrical inspector for the city of Milwaukee.
-The occupational asbestos exposure should have been anticipated and prevented by the defendants
-Edward suffered considerable mental and physical pain, lost income, and incurred medical expenses for mesothelioma treatment.
Informed mesothelioma cancer attorney, Witherite, with the Dallas, Texas law firm of Eberstein & Witherite, has been fighting for asbestos victims rights for a combined total of 40 years. The strong asbestos worker advocates believe workers and their families injured by asbestos exposure deserve compensation for their injuries and losses. Contact a product liability attorney specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation for help with you claim.
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A civil suit is filed against a woman charged with killing two teens while allegedly driving drunk in Ashwaubenon.
Police say Anrietta Geske was speeding when she ran a red light and crashed her Porsche into another car back in June, killing 18-year-olds Talhia Heroux and Ashley Knetzger.
Late last month, Heroux's mother filed a civil suit against Geske and her insurance company, Wisconsin Mutual.
It calls for an undisclosed amount of money for the wrongful death of her daughter.
The suit also calls for a judge to prohibit the insurance company from receiving any of the money Heroux could receive through a settlement.
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The mother and brother of a man who died after being escorted out of a River Falls bar by bouncers have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the business.
Joseph R. Roscoe, 43, River Falls, died Feb. 27, 2007 -- 10 days after being found unconscious in the alley behind The Library, 106 N. Main St.
The civil suit was filed in Pierce County last week by Janice Roscoe, Two Harbors, Minn., and Mark Woodard, Omaha, Neb., against bartender/manager Edward Roughton, 105 Elm St., River Falls, and The Library bar.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 17, 2007, Roscoe was a customer at The Library and "became obviously intoxicated."
According to the complaint, bouncers attempted to escort him out. The suit says they were negligent in causing or allowing Roscoe "to trip, fall or stumble multiple times, hitting his head on the floor and pavement and sustaining other serious injuries causing his death."
According to reports taken by police shortly after the incident, bouncers said Roscoe was drunk, caused a disturbance and was kicked out of the bar.
Roscoe was comatose after the incident and suffered a blood clot in his brain and a stroke after being hospitalized. He died Feb. 27 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
Police Chief Roger Leque said no criminal charges were filed in connection with the injury and death.
"We did an extensive and thorough investigation and referred (the results) to the Pierce County district attorney for review, but no charges were filed," Leque said Monday.
According to the civil lawsuit, Roscoe's medical expenses exceeded $200,000 and he suffered pain and emotional distress before he died.
The suit also says his family incurred costs for medical expenses for his last illness and funeral costs in excess of $50,000.
The suit alleges bar managers were negligent in hiring, training, supervising and keeping staff and negligent in maintaining the premises.
According to city records, The Library is owned by S&T River Falls LLC. S&T's president and agent is Stephanie Roughton.
Roscoe came to River Falls the summer before his death for alcohol treatment at Kinnic Falls Halfway House. He also did odd jobs in construction around town.
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A Wisconsin woman has filed an asbestos Wisconsin Wrongful Death suit on behalf of her recently deceased husband against 109 defendant corporations, claiming the mesothelioma with which he was diagnosed was wrongfully caused.
Doris Piacentine claims Edward C. Piacentine was diagnosed with the disease March 16, 2007, and died from it May 23, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 30 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Doris says her husband worked from 1953 until 1955 and in 1957 as a meat packer at Purdy's Steaks, from 1955 until 1957 as a corpsman, from 1957 until 1967 as a truck driver and station construction worker and from 1967 until 1996 as an electrical inspector for Milwaukee, according to the lawsuit.
Doris states Edward's exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants, according to the lawsuit.
She claims his disease was caused after he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers.
Doris alleges the asbestos-related disease caused the couple to incur substantial medical costs. Edward also has experienced great physical pain and mental anguish as a result of the disease, Doris claims in the lawsuit.
Mesothelioma hindered and prevented Edward from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.
As a result, he lost large sums of money, Doris claims.
Because of Edward's death, his family has been deprived of his support and has lost his society, the suit states.
His family spent substantial amounts on funeral and burial costs, according to the complaint.
Doris has been deprived of Edward's companionship, society and services, the suit states.
In the 11-count lawsuit, Doris seeks sums in excess of $150,000, economic damages in excess of $200,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $150,000.
She also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish Ferris Kimball Company, Sprinkmann Sons Corporation, Sprinkmann Insulation and Young Insulation Group of St. Louis for their misconduct and to deter similarly situated parties from committing like acts of misconduct in the future.
She is represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Alton.
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WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- An attorney for the family of a 28-year-old man officials say hanged himself in the Wood County jail has taken the first step to bring a lawsuit against the county.
On July 9, two days after he was sentenced to a year in jail for possession of child pornography, Richard A. Lordson used a sheet to hang himself, according to the Sheriff's Department. He died at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield the next day.
On Tuesday, Attorney David Skoglind, Skoglind Law Office of Mequon, sent Wood County a notice alleging wrongful death in Lordson's case. The notice is the first required step when planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
"I want to get absolute justice for Mr. Lordson and his family and his son," Skoglind said. "I don't think the limits of damages, as unfair as they are, are unfair to the county to compensate Mr. Lordson's family and child."
According to the notice, officials knew Lordson was suicidal and should have taken the proper precautions. It quotes several lines in the pre-sentencing investigation done on Lordson that indicate he had attempted suicide at least three times.
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The mother and brother of a man who died after being escorted out of a River Falls bar by bouncers have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the business.
Joseph R. Roscoe, 43, River Falls, died Feb. 27, 2007 -- 10 days after being found unconscious in the alley behind The Library, 106 N. Main St.
The civil suit was filed in Pierce County last week by Janice Roscoe, Two Harbors, Minn., and Mark Woodard, Omaha, Neb., against bartender/manager Edward Roughton, 105 Elm St., River Falls, and The Library bar.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 17, 2007, Roscoe was a customer at The Library and "became obviously intoxicated."
According to the complaint, bouncers attempted to escort him out. The suit says they were negligent in causing or allowing Roscoe "to trip, fall or stumble multiple times, hitting his head on the floor and pavement and sustaining other serious injuries causing his death."
According to reports taken by police shortly after the incident, bouncers said Roscoe was drunk, caused a disturbance and was kicked out of the bar.
Roscoe was comatose after the incident and suffered a blood clot in his brain and a stroke after being hospitalized. He died Feb. 27 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
Police Chief Roger Leque said no criminal charges were filed in connection with the injury and death.
"We did an extensive and thorough investigation and referred (the results) to the Pierce County district attorney for review, but no charges were filed," Leque said Monday.
According to the civil lawsuit, Roscoe's medical expenses exceeded $200,000 and he suffered pain and emotional distress before he died.
The suit also says his family incurred costs for medical expenses for his last illness and funeral costs in excess of $50,000.
The suit alleges bar managers were negligent in hiring, training, supervising and keeping staff and negligent in maintaining the premises.
According to city records, The Library is owned by S&T River Falls LLC. S&T's president and agent is Stephanie Roughton.
Roscoe came to River Falls the summer before his death for alcohol treatment at Kinnic Falls Halfway House. He also did odd jobs in construction around town.
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The mother and brother of a man who died after being escorted out of a River Falls bar by bouncers have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the business.
Joseph R. Roscoe, 43, River Falls, died Feb. 27, 2007 — 10 days after being found unconscious in the alley behind The Library, 106 N. Main St.
The civil suit was filed in Pierce County last week by Janice Roscoe, Two Harbors, Minn., and Mark Woodard, Omaha, Neb., against bartender/manager Edward Roughton, 105 Elm St., River Falls, and The Library bar.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 17, 2007, Roscoe was a customer at The Library and “became obviously intoxicated.”
According to the complaint, bouncers attempted to escort him out. The suit says they were negligent in causing or allowing Roscoe “to trip, fall or stumble multiple times, hitting his head on the floor and pavement and sustaining other serious injuries causing his death.”
According to reports taken by police shortly after the incident, bouncers said Roscoe was drunk, caused a disturbance and was kicked out of the bar.
Roscoe was comatose after the incident and suffered a blood clot in his brain and a stroke after being hospitalized. He died Feb. 27 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
Police Chief Roger Leque said no criminal charges were filed in connection with the injury and death.
“We did an extensive and thorough investigation and referred (the results) to the Pierce County district attorney for review, but no charges were filed,” Leque said Monday.
According to the civil lawsuit, Roscoe’s medical expenses exceeded $200,000 and he suffered pain and emotional distress before he died.
The suit also says his family incurred costs for medical expenses for his last illness and funeral costs in excess of $50,000.
The suit alleges bar managers were negligent in hiring, training, supervising and keeping staff and negligent in maintaining the premises.
According to city records, The Library is owned by S&T River Falls LLC. S&T’s president and agent is Stephanie Roughton.
Roscoe came to River Falls the summer before his death for alcohol treatment at Kinnic Falls Halfway House. He also did odd jobs in construction around town.
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CRANDON — The parents of four of the six young people killed in a shooting rampage by an off-duty deputy have filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
The lone survivor, 21-year-old Charlie Neitzel, who is seeking compensation for the "severe and permanent injuries" he suffered, also filed suit.
The lawsuits, which were filed last week and amended Monday with a minor correction, stem from an Oct. 7, 2007, shooting. Tyler Peterson, 20, a Forest County sheriff's deputy and part-time Crandon police officer, shot and killed six people after an argument at his ex-girlfriend's home. He used a police-issued AR-15.
The claims specifically name Crandon Police Chief John Dennee, Forest County Sheriff Keith Van Cleve, as well as the city, the county and their insurance companies.
The victims' families accuse them of being negligent in their supervision of Peterson and failing to investigate complaints that he had abused suspects.
"There was a known danger in that the departments were aware of Tyler Peterson's propensity toward violence and his history of anger-control issues. Nonetheless they continued to allow him to carry a firearm and … didn't do any kind of follow up to determine this level of danger," Peg Lautenschlager, the attorney for the four families and Neitzel, told The Post-Crescent on Monday.
Lautenschlager, a former Wisconsin attorney general, represents the families of four of the six victims who were killed: Katrina McCorkle, 18; Bradley Schultz, 20; Lindsey Stahl, 14; and Lianna Thomas, 17.
The parents of victim Jordanne Murray, 18, filed notices of circumstances of claim — a necessary precursor to a civil suit — earlier this year. Their attorney, David Blau, did not return voicemail or e-mail messages Monday seeking an update on their plans.
The family of shooting victim Aaron Smith, 20, never filed notices.
Paul Payant, the attorney for Forest County, did not return a phone message. His office said he was in court all Monday afternoon.
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