The State of New Jersey has been ordered to pay $11.5 million in damages following the wrongful arrest of Cheryl Rhines, a stroke victim, by State Trooper Jennifer Albuja in 2017.
Newsweek reached out to the New Jersey State Police and Rhines' attorney, Dennis Donnelly, for comment.
Why It Matters
The lawsuit against the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Police and the trooper highlights a larger issue about adequate medical emergency training for law enforcement.
What Happened To Cheryl Rhines?
On October 17, 2017, Cheryl Rhines, then 48, was on her way to work at BASF Corporation in Florham Park, New Jersey, when she pulled onto the shoulder of a Newark highway because she was "having early onset symptoms of a stroke," the lawsuit states.
After about 30 minutes, Albuja, a newly trained officer, arrived at the scene. The vehicle had hit a guardrail on the highway due to Rhines' condition. Rhines of Jersey City was unable to respond and communicate with Albuja, which the trooper interpreted as the driver being intoxicated.
A police report indicated that Rhines had facial drooping, which can be a symptom of a stroke, along with an inability to communicate.
Though Albuja found no smell or sign of substance use on Rhines, according to the lawsuit, the driver was arrested. Rhines had no prior offenses on her record.
Rhines was taken to the New Jersey State Police Somerville Station in Bridgewater Township, where she was escorted out of the police car. At the station, personnel recognized Rhines needed medical attention. However, she was still left shackled on the floor as they waited for EMTs to arrive, her attorney, Dennis Donnelly, told the New Jersey Monitor.
The two-and-a-half-hour delay in medical attention worsened Rhines' condition, resulting in "severe" and lasting health complications, the lawsuit states.
The suit went before Judge Keith Lynott. After a trial, the case was decided on January 29, 2025, and a jury awarded $11.5 million to Rhines.
Who Is Jennifer Albuja?
Jennifer Albuja is a New Jersey state trooper who had recently graduated from the police academy before the 2017 incident. Her inexperience and lack of training in medical emergencies are believed to have played a part in the Rhines' arrest.
The case raises concerns about whether officers receive sufficient instruction on identifying and responding to medical crises.
What Happens Next
The court's decision to award $11.5 million in damages to Rhines underscores the seriousness of the oversight. It seeks to hold law enforcement accountable for failing to provide essential medical awareness training.
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