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San Mateo County pays Woodside equestrian $750K settlement in wrongful arrest lawsuit

Original post made on Dec 6, 2022

A Woodside woman who was arrested while suffering a medical emergency that deputies mistook for drug or alcohol impairment has settled her lawsuit against San Mateo County for $750,000, according to an agreement dated Aug. 1.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, December 5, 2022, 3:32 PM

Comments (11)

Posted by Stephanie
a resident of Woodside: Woodside Glens
on Dec 6, 2022 at 12:17 pm

Stephanie is a registered user.

What an ubelievable story. I had pnemonia once and it can really sneak up on you when you think it's just the flu. This story breaks my heart. Thank you for reporting on it and clearing this poor woman's name.


Posted by ReginaR
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Dec 6, 2022 at 12:28 pm

ReginaR is a registered user.

This is an absolutely horrible story. I do not think this woman got a very good settlement. I think she deserves more money and I think the Sheriff’s Dept. should have been made to admit wrongdoing. Remind me not to use her attorney who got almost as much in legal fees as she did in her settlement! Law enforcement is supposed to protect and serve the community. I want names! The duty nurse should have been relieved of her duties immediately.


Posted by Danna Breen
a resident of Portola Valley: other
on Dec 6, 2022 at 12:45 pm

Danna Breen is a registered user.

Simply unbelievable, but worse the lack of empathy, kindness and the lack of clear witness of the truth. Horrifying.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of another community
on Dec 6, 2022 at 12:49 pm

Hmmm is a registered user.

Once again Sue Dremman writes a well detailed story. She conveys what this poor woman went through. I hope the facts continue to support the necessary name clearing needed by this victim. The SO once again only pays via a county financial penalty.

So were there any procedural changes at the jail as a result of this bigoted and avoidable mess?


Posted by Robert Cronin
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Dec 6, 2022 at 1:55 pm

Robert Cronin is a registered user.

Not a good picture of our so-called law enforcement. Incompetent officers should be fired, or at least re-educated.


Posted by truthseeker
a resident of Woodside: Woodside Hills
on Dec 6, 2022 at 3:14 pm

truthseeker is a registered user.

This is horrifying! What a nightmare this poor woman was put through. Such an atrocious example of the us vs. them attitude often exhibited by poorly trained law-enforcement officers and jailers. After she came back with a clean record and breathalyzer 3 TIMES! and mentioned she was ill, she should have immediately been sent to the hospital. Instead she was put through hell for 9 hours and nearly killed by official incompetence.
$750K with almost half going to her her attorney is woefully inadequate. There needs to be an apology made by SM Sheriffs Dept. and re-training and discipline for all officers and nurses which allowed this travesty to occur!


Posted by Thoughtful
a resident of Atherton: other
on Dec 6, 2022 at 9:17 pm

Thoughtful is a registered user.

A couple of cops mistreated this woman and it's amazing she didn't die.

Will they suffer any setback for this stupidity/misconduct? Nope, not even an ounce of discipline. (That's not in the article, but I guarantee you this is the case).

Taxpayers will pay the bill.

Something is wrong with this picture, of course. It's called public sector unions.

Why do unions need to protect government employees from the taxpayers who pay their salaries? I understand it was a different story to tell back in the days of the robber barons taking advantage of workers. That's a long time ago and a very, very different situation.


Posted by QHQH Paint
a resident of Portola Valley: Portola Valley Ranch
on Dec 7, 2022 at 10:48 am

QHQH Paint is a registered user.

Odette was one of my first equestrian mentors when I volunteered at the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy's therepeutic riding program. I cannot imagine a harder-working, more honest, good natured, and dedicated person. I cannot imagine going into work as ill as she was--but that was Odette for you. And I cannot imagine Odette's 6-foot, strong and robust frame as debilitated as it/she became.

As a physician, I am particularly horrified at the lack of medical care she received despite all evidence, even to a lay person, much more to the nurse said to be in attendance, that she was critically ill.

Money can't make up for the trauma and unfairness of it all, but hopefully Odette will feel partially compensated, able to live better on even this underpaid restitution, and at peace with the outcome. God/dess bless.


Posted by Les
a resident of Woodside: Skywood/Skylonda
on Dec 8, 2022 at 5:20 pm

Les is a registered user.

Let's hope this sheriff department never get their hands on a human killing robot. SM County Sheriff's office has serious issues, not just from this incident, but also the batmobile scenario. It is time for a complete and total overhaul of this taxpayer-financed department. The Grand Jury should be looking at this, and every other legal cost that comes from the taxpayer pocket. And crappy on those folks in my hometown of Woodside to pre-judge this woman before the was sentanced. Innocent people are charges with un-committed crimes more often than not. Take the Algorithm out of policing, and bring back human values and compassion before ... before this this kind of crazy goes on any longer. This is a sad commentary of San Mateo County.


Posted by Resident
a resident of Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
on Dec 9, 2022 at 8:30 pm

Resident is a registered user.

Why can’t we know the name of the officers. There are many community members who have had good relations with officers but also some unpleasant ones. [Portion removed.]


Posted by Menlo 2024
a resident of Menlo Park: Menlo Oaks
on Dec 11, 2022 at 2:39 pm

Menlo 2024 is a registered user.

Where's the police report?? Who are these officers??


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