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Irregular News for 08.25.06
Myrtle Beach, SC -- A tentative trial date has been set for a $10 million lawsuit against Myrtle Beach and its police department claiming that the city did not do enough to investigate the drowning death of a New Jersey college student on spring break.
The case could go to trial on Nov. 16, though both sides still have time to file other motions in the case.
Police said Jeffrey Rothman died in March 2001 at age 20 after jumping off Second Avenue Pier, and an autopsy determined that he had taken the drug Ecstasy and died accidentally.
His father, David Rothman, charges that the police department did not follow proper procedures, did not treat the case as a possible homicide and showed a general lack of professionalism.
The city generally does not comment on pending litigation, city spokesman Mark Kruea said.
Rothman, who is acting as his own lawyer, said he believes his son may have been robbed.
"I'm ready to go to trial," he said. "I can devote my time and energy to it more so than I felt any lawyer could. It was also a financial consideration at one point, too. And I have the passion to do it."
The lawsuit states that the Rothmans suffered "severe mental and emotional distress, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life."
David Rothman said his motivation is not the money - which he said he would give to charity, including a foundation set up in his son's name that gives two $1,000 scholarships each year to students from his alma mater, Toms River High School East in Toms River, N.J.
"I just think there was some failures that need to be addressed and I hope to make things right down there," he said. "Nothing I can do can bring back my son but at least this might help for the next person in that situation. When you lose a child, you can either give up or you can try to make change."
The death has spawned several lawsuits.
The Rothmans' suit against the city in 2002 for privacy issues was dismissed. In April, an N.C. court dismissed a suit they had filed against Elon, N.C., for access to police records.
The family sued several of Jeffrey Rothman's fraternity brothers, saying they failed to turn over proceeds from a fundraiser held for a scholarship foundation set up in his name. One of the accused counter sued for "malicious prosecution."
source
Myrtle Beach, SC -- A tentative trial date has been set for a $10 million lawsuit against Myrtle Beach and its police department claiming that the city did not do enough to investigate the drowning death of a New Jersey college student on spring break.
The case could go to trial on Nov. 16, though both sides still have time to file other motions in the case.
Police said Jeffrey Rothman died in March 2001 at age 20 after jumping off Second Avenue Pier, and an autopsy determined that he had taken the drug Ecstasy and died accidentally.
His father, David Rothman, charges that the police department did not follow proper procedures, did not treat the case as a possible homicide and showed a general lack of professionalism.
The city generally does not comment on pending litigation, city spokesman Mark Kruea said.
Rothman, who is acting as his own lawyer, said he believes his son may have been robbed.
"I'm ready to go to trial," he said. "I can devote my time and energy to it more so than I felt any lawyer could. It was also a financial consideration at one point, too. And I have the passion to do it."
The lawsuit states that the Rothmans suffered "severe mental and emotional distress, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life."
David Rothman said his motivation is not the money - which he said he would give to charity, including a foundation set up in his son's name that gives two $1,000 scholarships each year to students from his alma mater, Toms River High School East in Toms River, N.J.
"I just think there was some failures that need to be addressed and I hope to make things right down there," he said. "Nothing I can do can bring back my son but at least this might help for the next person in that situation. When you lose a child, you can either give up or you can try to make change."
The death has spawned several lawsuits.
The Rothmans' suit against the city in 2002 for privacy issues was dismissed. In April, an N.C. court dismissed a suit they had filed against Elon, N.C., for access to police records.
The family sued several of Jeffrey Rothman's fraternity brothers, saying they failed to turn over proceeds from a fundraiser held for a scholarship foundation set up in his name. One of the accused counter sued for "malicious prosecution."
source
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