By Brent Bosker

Families of dead woman file lawsuit for botched 911 call

Apr 18, 2011 | 6:10 AM

The families of a woman who died after a botched 911 call are now suing the RCMP and provincial government.

A statement of claim was filed on Apr. 8 at Court of Queen’s Bench in Prince Albert on behalf of Melissa Rabbitskin and the family of Kerry Canepotatoe.

The two-part lawsuit cites the RCMP for negligence for its handling of a 911 distress call made by Rabbitskin on Apr.8, 2010. The department of highways is cited for improper signage at the intersection of highways 942 and 943 and failure to alert drivers of flooding on highway 942.

Canepotatoe, Rabbitskin and her two children were driving from Prince Albert to Loon Lake in a snow storm last April. They became lost and their car got stuck on the remote highway of 942 near Big River. Three calls were made to 911 from a cell phone, but only one reached a dispatcher. When that call failed to bring help, Canepotatoe walked 70 kilometres and eventually died from exposure.

Rabbitskin and her two children were stranded in the vehicle without food for a week before they were discovered by a search team.

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She’s still under medical care, said Prince Albert lawyer Peter Abrametz Sr., who is representing both families in the lawsuit.

“Rabbitskin is coping well, but is not recovered and isn’t healed.”

As a result of the pain and suffering they endured, we are seeking in excess of $100,000, said Abrametz.

“In terms of the Canepotatoe family, they’ve lost a daughter and nothing will replace that,” said Abrametz.

The Canepotatoe family is seeking compensation for economic loss under the Fatal Accidents Act, which was revised five years ago to allow people to sue for grief and emotional suffering.

That 911 call resulted in a review and changes to the province’s dispatch system.

As of September, emergency calls are now followed up on by a supervisor to ensure they have met a satisfactory conclusion.

bbosker@panow.com