Officer Loses Her Job After Filing Slip And Fall Lawsuit

Chrissie Cole

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A Casselberry police officer who was fired after she sued the family of a severely brain-damaged toddler, claiming she slipped and fell during a rescue attempt, will not be returning to work. A federal arbitrator has rejected Andrea Eichhorn’s appeal.

Eichhorn and other officials arrived at the Cosmillo residence in January 2007, after the boy had fallen into the backyard pool. His mother had retrieved him and was trying to revive him.

Eichhorn claimed she slipped and broke her kneecap in a puddle of water while at the residence. Although the city had paid for all of her medical care and expenses, she sued the boy’s family alleging negligence.

After a story about the suit appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, hundreds of outraged people called City Hall complaining.

At that time she withdrew the suit, but she was fired by the city anyway.

"The arbitrator's ruling to uphold the city's decision will allow the Casselberry Police Department to move forward and put this unfortunate situation behind us and bring closure for the Cosmillo family," police Chief James Ruf added.