$105,000 Payout to Polk Woman on Bathroom Door Case

Alachua County rescuers responded to a call for an unresponsive woman, Lori D. Bulow, in a bathroom stall during the 2007 Florida-Tennessee game.  Bulow alleged that she stood up from the commode to redress, a rescuer kicked open the door, striking her in the head, and rendering her unconscious.  Bulow sustained bleeding to the head and a herniated disc that required surgery in 2008.  The Fire Rescue disputed such claims and defended that they found an unconscious woman in the stall but when they opened the door to the stall, the door struck the woman in the head.  A settlement was reached to avoid the costs of experts and litigation as well as the uncertainty of a jury verdict in this personal injury claim.