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One Foot In the Grave.
Dorothy VerValen had a sinking feeling when she
stepped on her grandfather's grave at the Sultan Cemetery to scrape moss
from the headstone. Literally.
Before she knew it, the 375 pound woman's right foot
had crashed down into what was left of Harry Smith's 53-year-old coffin.
Her left ankle, which stayed above ground, was fractured. VerValen's
daughter helped drag her mother out of the sinkhole.
Recalling that day in March 2000, VerValen said, "I
thought I was in a Stephen King movie. I literally had one foot in the
grave.''
Now, VerValen is suing the city of Sultan, Washington, alleging negligence
and seeking unspecified damages for injuries, legal costs and emotional
distress.
‘‘They know sinkholes happen, especially in pre-1960s graves,'' said
Robert Butler, a Bellingham lawyer representing VerValen. ‘‘They're not
doing anything to prevent it from happening.''
Diana Blakney, a Mercer Island lawyer representing the city of Sultan,
said it is not the city's duty to inspect every square inch of the
cemetery to make sure it is safe, citing the state Recreational Use Act as
a reason why VerValen's lawsuit should be dismissed. Like many parks, the
cemetery is open 24 hours a day, does not charge visitors a fee, and
visitors are generally responsible for their own safety.
Graves filled prior to 1958 can be problems because wooden coffins were
not sealed in concrete liners, and they rot after years in moist soil.
Some graves at the Sultan Cemetery date to the 1890s.
Butler said the city could take precautions to prevent other possible
injuries at the cemetery. He suggested having public works employees
search for sinkholes and fill them in with dirt or sand.
Sources: The Montana Standard, AP, "Woman sues Wash.
city after sinking into grandpa's grave."
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