By Rene Stutzman
The Orlando Sentinel
Related: Fla. officer injured during rescue sues
CASSELBERRY — A police sergeant who sued a family with a baby who suffered severe brain damage from a near drowning because the officer slipped and fell in a puddle of water at the house will drop the lawsuit, her attorney said late this afternoon.
Attorney David Heil, who represents Casselberry Police Sgt. Andrea Eichhorn, said he plans to file paperwork to that effect as early as Friday.
The city also reported today that it has placed Eichhorn on leave.
The police department would not explain why she was removed from duty. In a prepared statement, the department said it did so after a controversy over the suit caused it to review the incident.
Eichhorn sued the mother and grandparents of Joey Cosmillo, 22 months, on Oct. 1, alleging negligence. The suit says she slipped and fell in water that was left on the floor because the boy had been brought inside.
Eichhorn broke her kneecap and missed two months of work because of the Jan. 9 incident. Her medical bills and pay during that time were covered by the city or its insurance carrier.
Eichhorn’s attorney David Heil was not immediately available for comment.
A check of the court file at noon indicated the status of the suit had not changed.
City Manager Barbara Lipscomb, in a prepared statement, said she wanted to encourage Casselberry residents to continue to call 911 when there is an emergency.
Copyright 2007 Orlando Sentinel