by Nick Beres
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nearly one year after the historic May floods, a family is suing Metro Nashville for the drowning death of their 18-year-old son.
Roger and Joyce Brown and their attorneys Fletcher Long and Carrie Gasaway have filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
The family said their son, Daniel, and two friends were swept out of a yard and into Mill Creek on an inner tube.
Despite repeated requests for help, the Browns said Metro did not act, and they want the city held accountable.
Their attorneys said Metro failed to react even after Brown's two friends, who made it to safety on their own, reported their friend was still in the water.
"Well the lawsuit is about the government taking responsibility for lack of action to help someone in distress," said Long.
"Somebody is in distress," said Roger Brown. "You get your butt down there. You get a boat in the water. It's not that hard to do."
With the help of others, Roger Brown found his son's body days later.
An autopsy found the cause of death to be probable drowning.
According to the medical examiner the date and time of death was May 12, 2010 at 1:15 p.m.
The lawsuit states if the autopsy is correct then the victim survived for several days and could have been rescued if Metro had done more to help.
"They had 10 days to rescue him and they weren't even looking for him," said Brown.
NewsChannel 5 was unable to reach the Medical Examiner's office for clarification.
The lawsuit was filed late Friday afternoon. Metro's Legal Department did not return our call for comment.
Email: nberes@newschannel5.com
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