Week in Review: EMT Heroes, a Lawsuit, Inauguration Ceremony Set

Here are a few of the top stories from around Medford this week:

When John MacCorkle starting having trouble breathing after an electrical fire at his Forest St. home, he thought it was from smoke inhalation. But the paramedics treating him knew better. It took some persuading, but Erik Laighton and Michael Naughton convinced MacCorkle, 54, that he was having serious heart problems and needed to be taken to a hospital. He was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital by ambulance, where he went into cardiac arrest. A blood clot was found that, if not treated, could have been fatal, MacCorkle said. "It was a good thing they convinced me to go (to the hospital)," MacCorkle said Thursday. "Because I wasn't going on my own."

The city of Medford has defaulted on responding to a lawsuit alleging it police department falsely imprisoned a man for a total of six days. James Twohig, 31, of Medford is suing the city for $500,000, claiming it violated his 14th amendment rights The city was given until Dec. 21 by Federal Judge William Young to respond to the suit, but it failed to do so, according to court records. Following a request from Twohig's attorney, Laurence Cohen, a notice of default was issued by court clerks against the city.

Mayor Michael McGlynn and members of the school committee and city council will be sworn in to office during a ceremony Monday, January 2 at 10 a.m. in the Howard F. Alden Memorial Chamber at Medford City Hall. McGlynn told Patch on Thursday that he will be making some major announcements regarding capital improvement projects and Fast14 mitigation following the ceremony.