You know your country is going to hell when people feel entitled to sue the government for a hurricane.
The son of Ethel Freeman, a New Orleans resident who died at the Morial Convention Center the week after Katrina, is suing the City of New Orleans, the State of Louisiana, and everyone else who moves for negligence in her death. Ms. Freeman was a 91 year-old woman who died from lack of food and water as she waited for authorities to evacuate her to safety. The case alleges that gross negligence on the part of the government is responsible for her death.
While it is true that the Superdome and the Convention Center never should have happened, and it is also true that many, many people were not doing their jobs in the aftermath of Katrina, this has got to be the dumbest possible way to resolve this issue.
If Ms. Freeman’s son is successful, we can expect 20,000 additional lawsuits from the other people at the Convention Center, and another 20,000 from evacuees at the Superdome. The money awarded in such a case will have to be squeezed out of a city that is still trying to find the cash to restore running water to the Lower Ninth Ward a year after Katrina hit. A huge judgment in this case could shut down the police force in New Orleans.
There is something called sovereign immunity which protects the federal and state government from being sued. Unfortunately, there is a recognized exception made for negligence. This means it is entirely possible that the lawsuit could at least earn a hearing in court.
Ms. Freeman's death was a very famous event. You know her, even if you do not think you know her. Pictures of her body, slumped in a wheelchair and draped with a blanket, made the lead news story on every continent a year ago. She will remain one of the enduring images of Hurricane Katrina in the minds of everyone in the city, and for many people throughout the world. It is a shame to see her memory cheapened by what is nothing more than a money grab.
Yes, her son suffered from what happened here. So did we all. Tomorrow my family will bury one of our own, a middle-aged man who shot himself about a week ago. No doubt the loss and disarray that Katrina wreaked on Louisiana was a major contributor to the depression that ended in his death. The cycle of grief goes on and on.
So don’t give me any crap about pain and suffering. About heartache. We have all felt it. I am sorry for Ms. Freeman’s death, and for the suffering of all the people victimized by Hurricane Katrina – that is, when I have sorrow to spare for others. A lawsuit is no way to resolve all the pain this city has been through, and if the courts don’t dismiss this case immediately, we will have one more stupid thing sucking up resources badly needed for recovery.
Suing your own city in this case is like suing your parents. All you are doing is trying to take resources that are partly yours anyway. The Mayor, the Governor, City Council, even FEMA will not be hurt by this. This will hurt the kids who are back and trying to return to school. It will hurt the man down the street who is trying to get a building permit to reconstruct what is left of his life.
I am so tired of lawsuits. Mr. Freeman, drop the case and pick up a hammer and help. Go to school. Vote. Read books. For once in your life, acknowledge that you are not the only one who is hurting and experience the new feeling of thinking about someone besides yourself. The looting days in New Orleans are supposed to be over.
Nothing good can come of this, unless you are a lawyer. I imagine the lawyer has already spent his retainer check on a new Jaguar.