Widow files wrongful death lawsuit against Riviera Beach over canal rescue

Gia Thomas, the widow of Heath Thomas, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Riviera Beach. The suit alleges that mistakes by city firefighters during a canal rescue caused her husband’s death.

According to the lawsuit, Mr. Thomas was still alive inside his SUV when firefighters arrived, and the vehicle was floating and stable rather than actively sinking. The suit alleges that after crews broke into the SUV, it began to sink and quickly went under.

The lawsuit calls Mr. Thomas’s death preventable and points to failures in the city’s training, the equipment it provided and the command decisions made at the scene. The plaintiffs’ attorneys also cite findings from a WPBF 25 Investigates report, which described safety protocol violations during the rescue and failures to follow operating guidelines by the assistant fire chief in charge.

When a government agency is responsible

Florida allows wrongful death claims against cities and other public agencies, but these cases follow special rules, including written notice requirements and limits on damages. Families should speak with an attorney experienced in municipal liability as early as possible.

Read more: Riviera Beach Wrongful Death Lawsuit Highlights Preventable Tragedy and our earlier coverage of the rescue. Learn about our wrongful death practice or call (772) 781-4357.

Source: WPBF 25 News.