The city of Seattle will provide $1.86 million to the family of a man who passed away from a heart attack as a result of a caution note that was affixed to his address and delayed the arrival of emergency personnel.

NBC News reported that 48-year-old William Yurek passed away in his townhouse in 2021 after his son dialed 911 and responding Seattle Fire Department personnel first waited outside for law authorities before entering.

Yurek's family claimed he was unjustly put on a list of people known to be unfriendly to emergency personnel including police and firefighters. According to the lawsuit filed last year, Yurek lived in the apartment a few years before he passed away, and the prior tenant was on the out-of-date list.

The lawsuit claimed that medics were instructed to wait for a law enforcement escort. When Yurek's condition deteriorated, his son, who was 13 at the time, contacted 911 once more and was informed that help was en route despite though medics had already arrived.

When no police were there, doctors opted to enter the house, but Yurek died despite their efforts to save him.

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City Negligence

According to the lawsuit, the city was negligent in failing to maintain an accurate and updated list and in insisting that medics be escorted by police officers despite the fact that the police department was shorthanded and would likely be tardy.

According to Tim Robinson, a representative for the Seattle city attorney's office, the city has updated its operating procedures on the caution letters, which now expire after 365 days in the system or are reviewed and reissued. 

After each alert is issued to the address, notes regarding the need for assistance from the Seattle Police Department due to alleged aggressive or threatening behavior have to be confirmed, according to Robinson.

According to Lindquist, relying on addresses puts frequent movers and tenants in greater danger.

Seattle also agreed in August to pay $162,500 to a former manager of a 911 call center who claimed in a complaint that he had been unfairly punished for raising issues at work, including the blacklist dispatching practice.

The caution comments caused Brian Smith to resign from his position as administrative manager at Seattle's Community Safety and Communications Center in August 2022.

According to a medical professional, Yurek would have only had a 25 percent chance of surviving without the delay, Lindquist added.

Yurek left behind two daughters, 24 and 10, and two sons, 15 and 7, who will share in the settlement. The family discussed setting up college funds, and the money for the youngsters will be placed into a safe trust or annuity until they are of legal age.

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