Driver Awarded $12M After NJ Trooper Mistakes Stroke For Intoxication

NEW JERSEY — The state will pay almost $13 million to the family of a now-disabled woman who had a stroke on the side of a New Jersey highway, but was arrested for intoxication.

When a rookie State Police trooper arrested Cheryl Rhines, it delayed her medical treatment for hours and caused her to become permanently disabled, the lawsuit states. Rhines' mother sued NJ State Police for negligence and wrongful arrest in 2019, and a jury awarded her $12.9 million in damages late last month.

According to court documents, Rhines was on her way to work in October 2017 when she began feeling as if she might have a stroke. Rhines was traveling from Jersey City to her work in Florham Park, and stopped her car on Route 78 West in Newark.

State Trooper Jennifer Albuja found her about 30 minutes later, with the car still running and in drive. The vehicle had also hit the right guardrail, according to court records.

Rhines was unable to put the vehicle in park or turn it off as she couldn't move the right side of her body, and could not follow the trooper's commands or speak clearly, the lawsuit states. She also "was noted to have facial drooping," a common sign of a stroke, and was confused.

The lawsuit noted that Rhines was dressed in business attire and had no prior offenses.

Instead of realizing that Rhines needed medical attention, Albuja searched her car, arrested her for being under the influence, and drove her to the State Police station in Somerville, according to court papers.

This arrest delayed critical treatment for more than two and a half hours, and Rhines sustained significant brain damage, the complaint states.

While she was detained, troopers mocked her and accused her of “playing games” and “resisting” commands, according to the lawsuit. Rhines' attorneys said that as public safety officials, they should have recognized her distress sooner.

At some point, someone at the police station did realize Rhines needed medical attention, and called an ambulance. Still, troopers left Rhines shackled to the floor while waiting for EMTs, her lawyer told the New Jersey Monitor.

Their conduct went "beyond all possible bounds of decency," the lawsuit claimed. Rhines, now 56 years old, was unable to return to work and requires lifelong medical care and supervision, the lawsuit states.

Jurors awarded roughly $12.9 million in damages, medical expenses, and family care costs, according to court records. The original award amount was $19.1 million, which jurors later reduced because the troopers' actions did not cause the initial stroke, documents show.

State police did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment on the verdict.