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Posted: June 10, 2009

Judge dismisses wrongful death suit against Franklinton police

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Linsay and Maggie Lunsford

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Linsay and Maggie Lunsford

Franklinton, N.C. — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the town of Franklinton and its police department in relation to an officer-involved wreck that killed two sisters.

Superior Court Judge Shannon Joseph issued a ruling this week granting a summary judgment to the town, police officer and his superiors.

Linsay Lunsford, 18, and Maggie Lunsford, 9, were on their way home from a Wal-Mart shopping trip on Dec. 1, 2007, when, Guy Christopher Ayscue slammed his car head-on into theirs.

Both girls and Ayscue died in the wreck.

Franklinton police officer Michael Dunlap was pursuing Ayscue at the time of the collision. According to a Highway Patrol investigation, the 15-mile chase reached speeds of up to 90 mph, 35 mph above the posted speed limit.

Gene Edmundson, an attorney representing the Lunsford family, said his clients plan to appeal Joseph's ruling. He also said the family has reached an undisclosed settlement with Ayscue's estate.

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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210 Comments


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Latest Comments
here is what you need to do leo-nc The next time your in a situation where the public is watching ie you have to draw your gun. Dont and tell them you dont want to because you dont want to get sued
Click to view my profile zoocrew1
June 11, 2009 3:19 p.m.
"Faulty analogy. The dude with the ball is going to run for the touchdown even if no one chases him at all." Lightfoot

Thanks for making my point. The guy would run whether being chased or not. Might I ask what profession you are in sir?
Click to view my profile thepeopleschamp
June 11, 2009 3:16 p.m.
"Yep, we have to have these police chases to recover important things like motorcycles. http://news.aol.com/article/fleeing-car-hits-crowd-killing-3-kids/522847"----

In case you hadn't read the story you posted, it was a ROBBERY. Don't want to chase robbery suspects or violent offenders either now?
leo-nc
June 11, 2009 3:05 p.m.
Well i think the judge made the right decision. It just suprises me how easy it is to get a law suit these days. When i saw the facts of the case, i knew there was not chance they win the case. LEO's you have my respect. While on the chance that you actually have to take a life its sad that one of the first things that probably goes through your mind other than the fact you had took a life. Is that you are going to get sued. Even if the guy was firing at you and you were completely justified. Thats messed up. Im glad the laws are there to protect you from this. Its sad. I think that before a lawsuit is even "brought up" if has to meet certain requirements. Maybe that would keep some of these unbelievable lawsuits out of court.
Click to view my profile zoocrew1
June 11, 2009 2:50 p.m.
wa4mjf he might not be now but he was seen leaving the scene and at the time of the chase he was considered a suspect. I dont know if he has been charged. But we was leaving the scene of triple shooting and refused to pull over. At the time of the chase he was considered a suspect. Not that him fleeing didng negate that suspicion.
Click to view my profile zoocrew1
June 11, 2009 2:40 p.m.
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