Jasper Responds to $1 Million Lawsuit

A lawsuit has been filed against the Town of Jasper, Tenn. by Teresa Powell Hudson, the wife of Robert "Slick" Hudson, a Marion County Commissioner who suffered a heart attack during a commission meeting.

The Town of Jasper has filed a formal response denying any responsibility for Hudson's death.

On June 25, 2007, Slick suffered a heart attack and collapsed while sitting at a table after a meeting at a Marion County Commission Meeting in Jasper.

A fellow commissioner started giving Hudson CPR. They called an ambulance, but after 15 minutes without an ambulance showing up, fellow commissioners drove the unresponsive man to Grandview Medical Center by private vehicle.

He was transferred to Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga and died five days later.

In a court filed response, Jasper claims an ambulance was dispatched, however "shortly thereafter" the call for the ambulance was cancelled.

The lawsuit also alleges negligence by the town of Jasper because they had purchased an AED (defibrillator) device using taxpayer dollars and had agreed to act as a "first responder" in medical emergencies.

In response the city denies using taxpayer dollars to purchase the AED and said that the verbal commitment to act as a first responder was invalid because the employee who made the commitment did so without receiving authorization from the Jasper Mayor and Aldermen.

The response also says the town of Jasper could not legally act as a first responder because it did not have liability insurance nor the necessary staffing to provide response capabilities 24-7.

Hudson's lawsuit asks for $1 million medical, burial and future income loss.