fbpx

Visit our offices in Kansas City, Liberty, St. Joe,
or our Virtual Office

Veteran’s death after altercation with VA police in Kansas City leads to lawsuit

Friday, May. 3rd 2019

BY ROBERT A. CRONKLETON at the Kansas City Star

The family of a veteran who died after an altercation with VA police last year at the Kansas City VA Medical Center filed a wrongful death lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

Richard Farhner, Nichole Webster and Renee Farhner sued the U.S. government claiming that the death of their father, Dale Farhner, was caused by negligence and excessive use of force by two police officers who have not been identified publicly.

The Kansas City VA Medical Center has declined for months to provide The Star documents, audio and video relating to Farhner’s death.

An internal report was leaked to USA Today in December saying he died after being injured when a routine traffic stop went wrong.

Earlier this year, the VA headquarters denied Congress the information.

In a January letter to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, the VA wrote that the information wasn’t being released because Farhner’s death was under investigation.

According to the lawsuit, Farhner went to the Kansas City VA at 4801 Linwood Blvd. on May 10, 2018, for emergency treatment of a post-surgical infection of a wound from a hernia operation performed at the hospital days earlier.

Farhner, of Kingston, Missouri, drove into the parking lot and drove the wrong way on a one-way driveway leading to the emergency room entrance. He parked the vehicle and was approached by one or two unidentified police officers who ordered him out of his vehicle, according to the lawsuit.

The officers then got into a physical altercation with Farhner, resulting in injuries including cuts, scrapes, bruises and a traumatic brain injury, according to the suit.

Farhner, who was 66, died two days later at the University of Kansas Hospital.

Farhner’s family contends that the injuries were caused by the negligent conduct of the officers and resulted in his death. The officers owed Farhner a duty to use care regarding his “safety and well-being.”

The family also contends that the officers used more force than what was reasonably necessary under the circumstances. Because of that, the suit says, the U.S. government is liable for the wrongful death of Farhner.

Webster, as the personal representative of her father’s estate, has also filed similar claims of negligence and excess force. As an alternative to the wrongful death claims, she claims the officers’ actions caused her father’s injuries, but did not result in his death.

Efforts to reach a representative of the Kansas City VA Medical Center Thursday were not immediately successful.

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article229955869.html#storylink=cpy

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries from a wrongful death call Northland Injury Law at 816-400-4878 to speak to a Missouri personal injury lawyer today for help in recovering the compensation you need.  An experienced personal injury attorney can ease some of the burden by engaging in fact-finding, gathering the necessary documentation, and crafting concise and thorough demands for settlement of your claim.


Google 5 Star Rating Motor Vehicle trial Lawyers Top 25 Hurt In An Accident?

Personal Injury

If you’ve been injured and aren’t sure where to turn, let us help. We represent individuals in many areas of personal injury including truck, auto and motorcycle accidents, property liability (slip & fall), spinal cord injuries, and more.

Worker's Comp

Injured at work? We can help! If you have suffered a work-related injury or illness, we can help ensure you get full and fair compensation under the law.

REAL PEOPLE HELPING REAL PEOPLE

Our Personal Injury & Worker's Comp Attorneys

Northland Injury Law: Personal Injury Lawyers in Northland Kansas City and Northwest Missouri.

Proudly serving: Gladstone, Liberty, Kansas City, North Kansas City, Saint Joseph, Plattsburg, Cameron, Chillicothe, Trenton, Sedalia, Warrensburg and many other areas in Missouri.

The Northland Injury Law Firm has been practicing in the Kansas City area for many years. Our founders, Max Von Erdsmannsdorff and Steve Mowry, built a strong foundation for the firm. Since Eric Bartlett joined the firm in 1996, Northland Injury Law has earned a reputation for success, honesty and compassion in personal injury and worker’s compensation.

I found Northland Injury Law to be very professional and honest! They kept me up to date on my case. I would highly recommend the whole firm for all your legal needs!!” – Michael T.

Northland Injury Law is proud of the relationships they’ve built with the clients they have served in the Northland and surrounding areas.  Their many great results for seriously injured people have helped their clients recover the significant economic losses that attend such serious injuries.

When it comes to a lawsuit after an accident or injury, representation matters! Most people do not realize that insurance companies have teams of lawyers, investigators, photographers and defense experts who immediately go to work following a serious accident involving their insureds.  They hire these people to minimize their exposure throughout the claims process and to reduce the amount received by the victim. Northland Injury Law aims to level the playing field for their clients.

This is an excellent law firm. They helped me out after an accident and did an awesome job. I would recommend this law firm to anyone who needs a good lawyer.” – Toni B.

Between them, Mr. Mowry and Mr. Bartlett have over  50 combined years of legal experience in the Kansas City Northland area. They have both been recognized by KC Magazine as “Top attorneys in Missouri and Kansas” and both have been recognized in the National Top 100 Trial Attorneys.

If you require the services of excellent local lawyers after an accident or injury, call Northland Injury Law today for a free consultation at 816-400-4878.

Latest Blog

How To Choose A Personal Injury Attorney

Accidents don't come with a warning, leaving you grappling with injuries and a complex web of legalities. It's the kind of situation that can thrust you into a whirlwind of uncertainty, where decisions matter more than ever. A guiding hand...

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers about our Kansas City law firm, like how and when to file a suit for your Personal Injury & Worker’s Compensation.

View All FAQ's

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE EBOOKS!

Northland Injury Law © All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

Site Created by KC Web Specialists, LLC

Skip to content