Assist America Owes $28 Million for Zipline Accident in Mexico

Assist America Inc. must pay $27.8 million in punitive and other damages for responding negligently to a ziplining accident in Mexico which resulted in the amputation of its client’s leg, a federal jury in Minnesota ruled.

Assist America provides global emergency medical services. Ziplining on a vacation with his wife in Mazatlán, Richard Tholen suffered a severe knee injury aftercolliding with part of the braking system. Tholen alleged he received substandard treatment at local medical facilities, but that Assist America initially refused to provide a medical evacuation to the U.S. It allegedly delayed in referring his case to one of ...