Texas Ambulance Assault Case Settled

Sep. 28--FORT WORTH -- A teenage girl who was raped by two paramedics in the back of an ambulance almost three years ago has settled her lawsuit against the ambulance company and the Boy Scouts of America.

What happened: The girl and her family asked state District Judge David Evans to dismiss their lawsuit against RuralMetro of North Texas as well as the Boy Scouts of America, the Longhorn Council and their foundations.

Why now: Attorneys for the family, RuralMetro -- the former contractor providing regional ambulance service -- and the Boy Scouts declined to comment. But the parties reached an out-of-court settlement after going to mediation. The trial was to have begun Monday. The girl, now 18, was 15 at the time of the attack.

How big is the settlement: Details of the settlement are confidential.

Background: The girl, who is not identified because she is a sexual assault victim, was an Explorer Scout participating in a ride-along program in 2003 when Richard Barash, a paramedic, and James Christopher Russell, an emergency medical technician, parked their ambulance behind a west Fort Worth shopping center and repeatedly attacked the girl. Last year, Russell, now 31, and Barash, now 39, pleaded guilty to sexual assault. Russell is serving a six-year prison term, and Barash a two-year sentence. RuralMetro had contracted with the Area Ambulance Authority, known as MedStar, to provide regional ambulance service but withdrew after concerns were raised about the company's performance.

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