A Beaufort County Family Receives Compensation Over Incorrect Address Error by 911

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C.

A family residing in Beaufort County has received a settlement following a lawsuit that alleged a fatal error in the response of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office during a heart attack emergency. The suit was anchored on the claim that authorities failed to arrive at the correct address in time, resulting in the untimely death of their loved one.

The Lawsuit

The family of Williams Holmes, a resident of Bluffton, filed the lawsuit accusing Beaufort County Emergency Management Service of entering an incorrect address during the 911 dispatch. According to court documents, Holmes, suffering a heart attack, placed a 911 call in September 2022 and managed to provide his home address before losing his ability to speak. While the correct home address was recorded in the audio and by the dispatcher, it was wrongly entered in the call detail report, differing by a single digit.

The unfortunate incident led to the officers and/or EMS personnel responding to the incorrect address or not at all. Furthermore, the lawsuit reveals that the call was labeled as a “911 Hang-Up” despite lasting a total of 20 minutes. It highlights that the personnel made no efforts to verify Holmes’ home address, respond to it, or even contact the security personnel within his gated community so they could intervene swiftly.

The Settlement

The family of the deceased has settled the suit for $50,000, offered by the Insurance Reserve Fund. They argued that Holmes suffered shock and injury to his nervous system as he “lay dying in his home upon the realization that help was not coming.” Furthermore, the suit contained allegations against Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, claiming his office lacked “appropriate policies, procedures, and protocols” necessary to appropriately treat patients with conditions similar to Holmes.

Holmes’ loved ones experienced immense mental suffering and grief. Moreover, it was documented that Holmes’ body remained in the house for 11 days post-death, resulting in an advanced state of decomposition. The incident made the home uninhabitable for several weeks and necessitated costly renovations.

Aftermath

Following the settlement of the lawsuit, Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner refrained from commenting on the case. Until now, the incident stands as a stark reminder of the tragic human cost that administrative errors can inflict. It calls for improved emergency response protocols and communication to prevent future incident repetition and ensure residents receive the assistance they need when dealing with life-threatening conditions.