City Sued After Police Chase Leaves Victim Dead

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the City of Billings, the Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County, and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of 27-year-old Lillian Stahl, a Montana woman who was killed in an auto accident during a police pursuit.  According to the lawsuit, Stahl was driving to work at the same time police started chasing a GMC SUV that hit a parked car. 

Stahl's family is claiming the police violated pursuit procedures because the officer was in an unmarked police car. Under Montana law, police cannot conduct a police pursuit in an unmarked vehicle, and no more than two police vehicles can be involved in a pursuit. The lawsuit claims three police cars were chasing the GMC.

But the police department is maintaining that they called off the pursuit long before the accident occurred. No other comments have been made by any of the defendants.

Stahl's family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

The police will likely be held responsible for the death unless they can prove the chase was necessary due to extreme circumstances, the danger warranted the use of an additional police cruiser, and that the chase was called off before the accident took place. If the police are found to have broken procedure at the time of the accident, they will likely be held liable for damages.

This case has drawn attention to the question, "Who is held responsible when an innocent civilian is injured or killed in a police pursuit?"

If you are interested in discussing this topic in more detail, please click here to find a personal injury lawyer in your area.