The city of Phoenix has agreed to a $2 million settlement with the family of a two-year-old boy who died in 2022. The toddler’s death followed an incident where firefighters allegedly failed to transport him to the hospital, despite his mother’s desperate pleas. The settlement is the outcome of a wrongful death lawsuit that the family filed against the city and its fire department.
In 2022, the mother of the toddler, Abraham Cluckston, called 911 when her son experienced a seizure and high fever for the first time. According to court documents, she begged the responding firefighters to take her son to the hospital. However, they assured her that hospitalization was not necessary and suggested she administer Tylenol and ibuprofen to him.
Sadly, a few hours later, Abraham was found unresponsive. A second emergency call was made, and this time, he was rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, they were unable to revive him.
The Cluckston family’s lawyer, Brian Slack, voiced the family’s profound disappointment with the emergency services’ response. He stressed that the family had relied on the advice given by the firefighters. The lawsuit accused the firefighters and the city of negligence, demanding accountability for the advice that led to this preventable tragedy. The family’s statement highlighted their wish to uncover any procedural errors and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
In response to the settlement, the Phoenix City Council acknowledged the tragedy and extended their condolences to the Cluckston family. The city released a statement promising that an internal review had been conducted, resulting in improved training and procedures for emergency personnel.
Despite the settlement, the Cluckston family remains committed to advocating for policy changes to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss. They hope their efforts will bring about significant reform within the emergency response system.
While the settlement cannot bring Abraham back, the family believes it represents a step towards justice and accountability. They continue to advocate for reforms that will protect other children in the community. The city reaffirmed its commitment to community safety, stating that it remains focused on protecting its residents and making necessary improvements to its emergency response protocols.