By Aaron Miller-
The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $1.86 million to the family of William Yurek, a 48-year-old man who tragically passed away in 2021 after a caution note attached to his address resulted in a delayed response from medics.
The incident raised concerns about the use of such notes and their impact on emergency medical services.
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William Yurek died in his townhouse in Seattle after his son dialed 911. Shockingly, when Seattle Fire Department medics arrived at the scene, they initially waited outside for law enforcement before entering the premises, according to a report by The Seattle Times.
The Yurek family asserted that William was mistakenly placed on a blacklist of individuals known to be hostile to police and fire crews.
He had lived in the unit for a couple of years before his unfortunate demise, and the outdated list still contained the name of the previous tenant, as revealed in a lawsuit filed last year.
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The lawsuit further claimed that medics were instructed to wait for a law enforcement escort, even as Yurek’s condition deteriorated. His then 13-year-old son had to make a second 911 call, only to be told that help was already en route, despite the medics’ presence at the scene.
Eventually, medics decided to enter the home without police assistance, but despite their efforts, William Yurek tragically passed away.
Mark Lindquist, the family’s attorney, stated, “Once inside, medics did everything they could to save Will’s life. The family has always been grateful to the medics who broke protocol to go in and do their best.”
In response to this incident, the city of Seattle has made changes to its operating guidelines concerning caution notes.
According to Tim Robinson, a spokesperson for the Seattle city attorney’s office, these notes now expire after 365 days in the system or undergo a review and renewal process.
Additionally, notes indicating the need for Seattle Police Department assistance due to alleged violent or threatening behavior are to be verified after every alarm dispatched to the address.
Lindquist expressed concerns about relying solely on addresses, emphasizing that this practice puts renters and individuals who frequently move at greater risk.
This tragic incident is not the first time concerns have been raised regarding the use of caution notes in Seattle.
In August, the city agreed to pay $162,500 to a former 911 call center manager who claimed he was unfairly punished for raising issues at work, including the dispatch practice involving the blacklist.
A medical doctor cited in the case stated that had there been no delay in the response, William Yurek would have had a 25% chance of survival, further underscoring the importance of timely emergency medical services.
Mark Lindquist summed up the family’s perspective, saying, “From the beginning, the family wanted the city to take responsibility. That’s happened.”
(Image: Mark Lindquist)
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