The parents of a toddler who was tragically crushed to death by the automatic doors of an Arizona fire station are seeking $9million from the city.
Parents Dan and Courtney Reiss lost their 16-month-old son and only child Joseph ‘Joey’ Reiss last February during a tour of a Scottsdale Fire Department.
The Reiss family and other relatives – with a total of seven children – were touring the station on February 3, where Joey’s uncle worked as a firefighter, according to AZCentral.com.
Toddler Joseph ‘Joey’ Reiss was crushed to death by the automatic doors of a Scottsdale Fire Station on February 3
The child’s parents Dan and Courtney Reiss filed a notice of claim on Thursday claiming $9million from the city of Scottsdale for the traumatic loss of their child
Tragic accident: Joey got caught in the automatic closing doors of the station that crushed him
While his parents weren’t looking, Joey got caught in the automatic accordion style bay doors at the station that closed on him.
Firefighter David Bruns, who was at the station when the accident took place, recalls hearing the ‘blood-curdling scream’ from Joey’s mother upon seeing her son trapped in the folding door.
Bruns then tried to pry open the electronic doors but was unable to stop it from closing in on the child.
The doors closed on the toddler and an officer pressed a button to reopen them.
CPR was performed on Joey, but he later died from injuries to the skull and brain.
His parents’ attorneys Steve Hulsman and Evan Goldstein filed a notice of claim, a precursor to formally filing a lawsuit in court, with the city of Scottsdale on Thursday.
‘The anguish suffered by Dan and Courtney is immeasurable,’ the notice said.
‘Without warning, 16 months of love and joy ended. His loss leaves Dan and Courtney struggling to imagine how they can find hope and joy in their lives ever again. While their lost income pales in comparison to their grief and emotional loss, they have missed a tremendous amount of time from work. They are both in counseling, struggling just to get by day-to-day, merely existing,’ the notice added.
The family was with other relatives on a dream tour of the Scottsdale Dire Station on February 3 when Joey suddenly got stuck in the automatic folding doors of the building
Joey’s parents claim $9million for the wrongful death of their only child and emotional distress caused to the mother, according to the notice
The child died from brain and skull injuries in the door incident, pictured above at his first birthday. He was the only child of Dan and Courtney Reiss
The notice claims that the city could have prevented the accident by displaying warning signs, whether visual or audible, about the danger of the automatic doors prior to their movement.
It adds employees could have also been properly trained on the safety features of the door.
The Reiss family claim $9million for the wrongful death of their only child and emotional distress caused to the mother, according to the notice.
The city of Scottsdale released a statement following the lawsuit.
‘The city of Scottsdale remains deeply sympathetic for the Reiss family’s tragic loss. As for the notice of claim, the city disputes a number of the facts it contains, and will vigorously defend the matter,’ spokesperson Kelly Corsette said.
Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon shared his condolences to the Reiss family.
‘This report reveals the heartbreaking story of a tragic accident that claimed a young life. We remain profoundly saddened and continue to extend our deepest sympathy and support for his family and the fire fighters involved,’ Shannon said in a statement.
A police report from April determined that there was no criminal wrongdoing in the incident.