Salt Lake City, Utah — A 25-year-old man is facing a $400,000 lawsuit after attempting to catch a baby who fell from a fifth-floor balcony — a rescue effort that tragically ended in the infant’s death.
Jason Reid, a Utah resident, witnessed the baby falling and instinctively rushed to try and catch the child. Although he managed to break the fall, the baby’s head struck the ground due to the force and momentum of the drop. Reid immediately called 911, but despite the paramedics’ quick response, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses described Reid as devastated, collapsing to the ground and repeatedly saying, “I swear I just wanted to save him. I didn’t want this to happen.”
However, just a week later, the child’s mother filed a lawsuit against Reid, accusing him of involuntary manslaughter. The lawsuit alleged that Reid failed to follow basic safety protocols and that his “improper handling” during the attempted rescue contributed to the fatal injury.
Reid’s defense attorney strongly disputed the accusation, calling the incident a tragic accident. He argued that Reid acted instinctively in a split-second situation and should be protected under Utah’s Good Samaritan Law — legislation designed to protect individuals who voluntarily render aid during emergencies.
“This was an act of compassion, not negligence,” the attorney said. “Jason was trying to save a life, not take one. Under the Good Samaritan Law, he should be seen as a rescuer, not a criminal.”
Ultimately, the judge and jury agreed that Reid’s actions were covered under the Good Samaritan Law, and the criminal charges were dropped. However, in a separate civil trial, the court ruled that Reid was 30% liable for the incident due to what was described as “reckless handling” during the rescue attempt.
He was ordered to pay $400,000 in damages to the child’s family.
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