Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Rita Hunter, state officials sued for wrongful death in Anderson Guest House fire

Another big scoop for The Fuse Joplin: The blog broke the news today that former Jasper County Public Administrator Rita Hunter and former Anderson Guest House owner Robert Dupont are being sued for wrongful death in connection with the Nov. 27, 2006, fire that killed 11 people.

Other defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed today in McDonald County Circuit Court, include Dupont's wife Laverne, Joplin River of Life Ministries, former head of the Department of Social Services Jane Drummond,and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Filing the lawsuit was Mary Frances Joyce, whose son was killed in the fire.

The petition says Mrs. Hunter and the other state officials did not do enough to ensure that her son was placed in a safe facility. She is asking for damages in excess of $25,000 for each of more than 50 defendants, including a number of "John and Jane Does."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I suspect this suit is frivolous (could they have had any reason to believe the place was dangerous?), Rita Hunter is one person whom I don't mind getting kicked while she's down.

As a side note, if she's not in prison (or clearly headed there) by the end of next year I'll be concerned about the local machine "protecting their own", no matter how much damage they do to others.

Anonymous said...

I fully agree, think they should make a field goal! Kicker hard! She deserves all she gets and more. How about it Rita, the people who were entrusted to your care, what the hell? They couldn't stand up for themselves and they didn't have anyone else to stand up either. Well, maybe one that got this ball rolling, thanks Emma and family. And my sincere, heartfelt sympathy to the family that lost their family member.
Yes, I too am waiting too to see what the justice system will do.