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Senators Reject Bill to Ease Liability for Police Chases

Sen. Dan Watermeier
Sen. Dan Watermeier

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have made it more difficult for passengers in getaway cars to sue if they are injured during a high-speed chase with police.

Senators came up short two votes Thursday of the support needed to overcome a filibuster, effectively killing the measure for the rest of the year.

Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse says he introduced the bill in response to a 2012 Nebraska Supreme Court case involving a man who was paralyzed during a police chase.

The passenger received $1 million in damages from the county even though he had been drinking in the car and had drug pipes in his pockets.

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