Multnomah County, sheriff's office face $10 million suit after deputy injured on patrol boat

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A crew member on a Multnomah County Sheriff's Office patrol boat filed a lawsuit against the sheriff's office and county after becoming injured from the "unseaworthy" vessel, according to court documents.

The lawsuit, which was first reported by The Oregonian, was filed on Nov. 25 and seeks $10 million for negligence leading to injuries of Deputy Rodney Nuzum.

The lawsuit stems from an incident on June 25, 2022, when Deputy Nuzum was a crew member on a county patrol boat assigned to the Willamette River.

As another deputy tried to dock at the Waverly Marina gas dock in Portland, the crew faced high water, wind, and swift currents, leading the boat to swing, court documents claim-- explaining Deputy Nuzum was thrown backward onto the dock while he tried to secure the boat.

As a result of the incident, Nuzum experienced pain, suffering and contusion of muscles, bones, nerves, and soft tissue around his neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and spine on top of a pre-existing cervical condition, along with a wrist fracture, radial head fracture among other medical issues requiring treatment, according to court documents.

The lawsuit alleges that the county and sheriff's office were negligent by providing a boat with mooring lines that were unable to secure the vessel to the dock and failed to provide training on operating the vessel in high water, and not providing a sufficient crew to safely operate the boat.

According to court documents, the boat was unseaworthy for several reasons – including failing to include a ramp with a non-skip surface, failing to provide a ramp with functioning handrails, and failing to provide a ramp that was static – opposed to rising and falling with the current.

Multnomah County and Multnomah County Sheriff's Office told KOIN 6 News the agency does not comment on pending litigation.