8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

1/16

Offices:Scottsdale, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona

Law Offices

KNAPP&ROBERTSA Professional Corporation

Website: rattorne!s"co#E$#ail: na%%rattorne!s"co#

November 14, 2013

'a!or 'arlin K(!endallPrescott )it! *allCITYOFPRESCOTT

+- So(th )ortez StreetPrescott, Arizona ./00

1!nn '(lhall, )it! )lerPrescott )it! *allCITYOFPRESCOTT

+- So(th )ortez StreetPrescott, Arizona ./00

2arrell Willis, Wildlands 2i3ision )hiefGRANITEMOUNTAINIHS CREW

-4 5ron S%rin6s RoadPrescott, Arizona ./07

2an 8rai9o, 8ire )hiefPRESCOTTFIREDEPARTMENT

-4 5ron S%rin6s RoadPrescott, Arizona ./07

o3ernor ;anice K" Bre4

Wend! S#ith$Ree3e, 2irectorARIONADI!# OFEMERGENCYMGMT#

7/0/ East 'c2o=7

Wend! S#ith$Ree3e, 2irectorARIONAINCIDENTMANAGEMENTTEAM

7/0/ East 'c2o=7

)hi% 2a3is, )hair#an of the BoardYA!APAICOUNTY$D# OFSUPER!ISORS

--7 8air StreetPrescott, Arizona ./07

Scott 'ascher, ?a3a%ai )o(nt! SheriffYAVAPAICOUNTYSHERIFFSOFFICE

+77 East (rle! StreetPrescott, Arizona ./0-

Ana Wa!#an$Tr(9illo, )ler of the BoardYA!APAICOUNTY$D# OFSUPER!ISORS

--7 8air StreetPrescott, Arizona ./07

.444 North aine! )enter 2ri3e, S(ite -/7Scottsdale, Arizona .7+7.

@>. ==-$4/44

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

2/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e + of -/

Re% A#R#S# & 12'(21#01)A* No+-e o. C/mYre// H// Fre

Na#e of 2ecedent: rant C(inn 'cKee2ate of 2eath: ;(ne 0, +-0)lai#ant: 'arcia 'cKee @'other of 2ecedent

2ear P(blic Entities:I+ro-+o

We re%resent )lai#ant 'arcia 'cKee, the #other of rant C(inn 'cKee"Beca(se of the ne6li6ence of the State of Arizona, ?a3a%ai )o(nt!, and the )it! ofPrescottDand beca(se of the ne6li6ence of their rele3ant a6encies, de%art#ents, officials,

e#%lo!ees, and a6entsDrant 'cKee died on ;(ne 0, +-0, d(rin6 the ?arnell *ill8ire" With the exercise of reasonable care, rants death

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

3/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e 0 of -/

The liable %(blic entities ne6li6entl! (sed %oor and (nti#el! infor#ation abo(tthe rele3ant fire

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

4/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e > of -/

'aintain propt co"nications with yo"r forces( yo"r s"pervisor and

ad)oining forces!

The liable %(blic entities ne6li6entl! failed to #aintain %ro#%t and acc(rateco##(nications

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

5/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e 7 of -/

8ire not sco(ted and sized (%"

Safet! zones and esca%e ro(tes not identified"

Hnfa#iliar

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

6/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e / of -/

intends to #ae, and has #ade, a s(#$certain de#and a6ainst each liable %(blic entit! inthe a#o(nt of L-+ #illion" 5n the alternati3e, if the %(blic entities

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

7/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e 4 of -/

obtain re%orts, doc(#ents, and infor#ation fro# the %(blic a6encies and %(blice#%lo!ees in3ol3ed in the ?arnell *ill 8ire and in its in3esti6ation" Still, this notice of

clai# is as acc(rate as the li#ited infor#ation allo+$>0 @Se%t" +0, +-0"0+arnell ,ill Fire Reportat >> @Se%t" +0, +-0">Interagency Serio"s Accident Investigation *"ideat .-, 4". @A(6" +-0"7Interagency Serio"s Accident Investigation *"ideat .-, 4". @A(6" +-0"/Interagency Serio"s Accident Investigation *"ideat .-, 4". @A(6" +-0"4Interagency Serio"s Accident Investigation *"ideat .+, 4". @A(6" +-0"

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

8/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e . of -/

E3en before the +arnell ,ill Fire Reporta%%eared, there

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

9/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e = of -/

the (%co#in6 re%ort b! the Arizona 2e%art#ent of Occ(%ational Safet! and *ealth

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

10/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e - of -/

Standard Firefighting Orders set o(t in the H"S" 8orest Ser3ice, InteragencyStandards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, N8ES +4+> @;an" +-0 b!:

8ailin6 to ee% infor#ed on fire

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

11/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e -- of -/

5nstr(ctions and assi6n#ents not clear"

No co##(nication lin " The liable %(blic entities ne6li6entl! failed to coordinate the o%erations of the6ro(nd$firefi6htin6 and air$firefi6htin6 assets to ens(re #(t(al %rotection ands(%%ort that

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

12/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e -+ of -/

-" The liable %(blic entities ne6li6entl! failed to infor# the ranite 'o(ntain*otshots of a3ailable locations

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

13/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e -0 of -/

beca(se the fire shelters

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

14/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e -> of -/

his basic trainin6 to beco#e a ranite 'o(ntain *otshot, rant 'cKee had sent his#other a note ex%lainin6 ho< #(ch she #eant to hi#" *e (sed the

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

15/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e -7 of -/

8ro# the ti#e 5 o%en #! e!es in the #ornin6 (ntil the ti#e 5 close

the# at ni6ht, no

8/14/2019 NOC -- Yarnell Hill Fire

16/16

A"R"S" -+$.+-"-@ANotice of )lai#, ?arnell *ill 8ire2ecedent: rant C(inn 'ceeNo3e#ber ->, +-0Pa6e -/ of -/

Co-/6o

The liable %(blic entities sho(ld a%%reciate their liabilit! and the tre#endo(s lossthat the death of rant 'cKee has ca(sed for his #other" We antici%ate that the liable%(blic entities th da! of No3e#ber, +-0"

:NAPP> RO$ERTS, P#C#

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)rai6 A" Kna%%Attorne! for )lai#ants