Tillman v. Mantz

**Tillman v. Mantz: Court Protects First Responders from Treatment Decision Lawsuits** This case involved a dispute over medical treatment decisions made by first responders and their employer, Mantz. The plaintiff, Tillman, sued claiming the responders were negligent in how they provided care and made treatment choices during an emergency response. The Ohio Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the first responders and their employer. The court found that first responders have legal immunity (protection from lawsuits) when making treatment decisions during emergencies. Crucially, the court determined there was no evidence that the responders acted in a willful or wanton manner - meaning they didn't show extreme recklessness or intentional misconduct. Without such evidence, the immunity protection applies. This ruling matters for workers, particularly those in emergency response roles like paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters. It confirms that these workers have strong legal protection when making split-second medical decisions under pressure, as long as they don't act with extreme recklessness. However, for other workers who might need emergency medical care, this decision shows that successfully suing first responders for treatment choices requires proving they acted with willful disregard for safety - a very high legal standard.