Meridian man said a Boise Fire boat struck him on the river. He filed a lawsuit
A Meridian man has sued the city of Boise, alleging that a fire department boat hit him while he was floating down the river in July 2024.
Shawn White “was participating in a peaceful and recreational activity with his nine year-old son on the Boise River,” according to the lawsuit, but that changed at around 5 p.m., when they floated on inner tubes past the 9th Street bridge.
“A boat — clearly marked as belonging to the Boise Fire Department and operated by the Boise Fire Department personnel — struck Plaintiff knocking him off his tube and pushing him under the water and under the boat, toppling him and sending him careening,” the lawsuit alleged.
The lawsuit names the city of Boise, the Boise Fire Department, and also contains unnamed entities or people as defendants, including John and Jane Does. Boise Fire Department spokesperson Lauren Melink said the department couldn’t comment on pending litigation.
White filed a tort claim with the city in 2024; such a claim is a necessary precursor to a lawsuit against a government agency. White’s tort claim alleged that Boise Fire Department personnel apologized to him, according to previous Statesman reporting. That claim said his shoulder, knee, back and ankle were injured.
In the lawsuit, he asked for unspecified compensatory damages, costs and attorney’s fees.
The city responded with several possible defenses, including that the defendants “exercised reasonable care and acted in a reasonable and prudent fashion” and “did not commit any acts of gross negligence or commit any reckless, willful and wanton acts.”
