NEWARK, NJ — A New Jersey woman who suffered a stroke behind the wheel and was mistakenly arrested for driving under the influence has been awarded $11.5 million in damages by an Essex County jury.
Cheryl Lynn Rhines, 57, was denied urgent medical care after New Jersey State Troopers misinterpreted her medical emergency as intoxication, leaving her permanently disabled, her lawyers argued in court.
The incident occurred on October 17, 2017, when Rhines, then 48, was driving to work from Jersey City to Florham Park. She began experiencing stroke symptoms after passing through a toll on the New Jersey Turnpike extension and pulled over on Route 78 West near Milepost 56 in Newark.
State police arrived about 30 minutes later and found her car running in drive, with the front end against a guardrail. Despite her clear distress—including facial drooping, confusion, and difficulty holding herself up—an officer placed her on the hood of her car and ignored her pleas for help.
The lawsuit, filed by Rhines’ mother, noted that she was wearing professional business attire, had no history of drug or alcohol use, and had no outstanding warrants. The jury’s decision highlights the consequences of misdiagnosing medical emergencies during law enforcement encounters.