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Detroit EMT sued on accusations she refused to respond to call of baby not breathing

DETROIT – The city of Detroit and its fire department is now facing a lawsuit after an emergency medical technician allegedly refused to go to a home where an 8-month-old baby had stopped breathing.

Local 4 obtained a copy of the lawsuit Tuesday, which was filed by the Fieger law firm on behalf of I'Nayah Wright-Trussell's family. It asks for at least $1 million.

I'Nayah, who was on an oxygen machine due to complications from a premature birth, stopped breathing May 30 at her home on Glastonbury Road. When the family's 911 call went out, EMT Ann Marie Thomas was told by her supervisor to respond to the scene, according to records. But Thomas parked her rapid response vehicle a street away and refused to go into the house until police and an ambulance arrived.

Thomas said she wouldn't "be on no scene 10 minutes doing CPR," and that "you know how these families get," according to records.

Ann Marie Thomas

An ambulance -- which reported being stuck in traffic -- eventually got to the home, but the I'Nayah died the next morning at a hospital.

The lawsuit alleges Thomas committed gross negligence and willful misconduct.

Thomas was disciplined twice by the fire commissioner and subsequently fired.

The Prosecutor's Office is waiting on the results of the police's internal investigation, which could result in Thomas facing criminal charges.

Detroit EMT refuses to help baby: Go inside the investigation

Click here to view the internal report of this incident

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