The family of a doctor who suffered severe brain damage from a stroke is appealing the jury's decision in a lawsuit against the City of Bakersfield.
They want a new trial.
The suit claims Bakersfield police denied Dr. Mohamed Harb medical care after he crashed his car while having a stroke in 2007. The stroke left him with permanent brain damage.
Dr. Harb sat through the hearing in his wheelchair Tuesday morning.
A jury ruled in December that Bakersfield police and Hall Ambulance were not responsible for Dr. Harb's condition.
Harb's family claims a Bakersfield police officer turned a Hall Ambulance away, thinking the doctor was drunk.
But, the officer testified Hall paramedics told her Dr. Harb's condition was not medical.
Harb's family wants another trial, saying the discrepancy confused jurors.
"The next step if he does not grant the motion for new trial, then we go to a three court panel of the Fifth Circuit appellate court," said Thomas Brill, Harb family attorney.
"Everybody started crying. They wanted to know why, why this was happening," said Fatema Zagloui, Dr. Harb's wife.
Attorneys for the city and Hall Ambulance declined to comment Tuesday.
Judge Eric Bradshaw is reviewing the request for a new trial and is set to make a ruling this week.
