Carpentersville fire chief talks about lawsuit

Carpentersville Fire Chief John Schuldt has spoken out for the first time about a $30 million federal lawsuit filed against the village, defending two paramedics accused of denying care to a 4-month-old boy last year because he is Hispanic.

"I stand behind my paramedics and know that they acted in the utmost professional manner and the citizens of Carpentersville can continue to be proud of the men and women that serve them each day," Schuldt said in the first official statement released last weekend.

The statement likely is the last the village will release until the lawsuit is decided.

"Because the village believes it inappropriate to try this case in the media, we will leave the matter to be resolved in court and make no further comments regarding this case," the release states.

Former Carpentersville resident Gloria Lopez, 28, alleges paramedics Diane Graham and Martin Gruber acted with gross negligence and violated her son's civil rights in failing to take him to a hospital after a 911 call in September 2006.

Gloria Lopez, who has since moved to Elgin, says the infant was in distress and vomiting but was not immediately taken to hospital. Osbiel Lopez, who was in the care of baby sitter Esther Carrera, suffered brain damage as a result, the lawsuit alleges.

Emergency medical technicians Christopher Scholl, Anthony Ferreiro and Howard Manka transported Osbiel Lopez to Sherman Hospital in Elgin after the fire department received a second 911 call from the baby sitter about three hours after the initial call was placed.

The lawsuit, which seeks $30 million plus the cost of litigation from the defendants, said the village "had a practice and/or policy to limit emergency medical services to persons of Hispanic ancestry."

Prosecutors pointed to the proposed Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Act, a strict crackdown introduced by Trustees Paul Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt that would penalize those who rent to or hire illegal immigrants. The measure is currently tabled.

Although village trustees had not yet introduced the controversial proposal the day the boy got sick, a statement from the boy's lawyers said "anti-immigrant trustees and organizations" had been "part of a years-long campaign" advocating reduced services for Hispanics.

Village officials deny the allegations.

"The village will defend this matter and is confident that the evidence will show there is no merit to this lawsuit," the news release says.