Mom to sue as Metro stands by driver in dirty diaper case
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SEATTLE -- King County Metro is standing by the driver who kicked off a mother and son over the boy's stinky diaper.
Metro apologized to Nichole Hakimian for the inconvenience, but said a review found the driver did not break any rules.
The mother said she is not interested in any apology, and plans to take legal action.
"You don't just come out of nowhere and kick a mom off a bus with a sick child," she said.
Hakimian said a Metro driver told her and her 1-year-old son to get off two stops before her destination. She was headed to a medical clinic in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood at the time.
"I said, 'He has diarrehea. I'm on my way to a doctor's appointment for him. She said, 'I'm sorry. It's unbearable. You need to get off the bus,"' she said.
Hakimian said the driver insisted she get off even when she told the driver she only had two more stops to go.
"She said, 'Well, I'm sorry. It's just unbearable. You need to get off the bus,'" she said. "Nobody (else) on the bus was complaining at all."
Metro released the following statement:
"This is a very unique situation. Our goal is always to balance the comfort of all of our riders with providing good customer service. The driver didn't violate Metro policy - she felt she had to advocate for her passengers by politely and apologetically asking the woman to exit the bus."
The mother is not happy that Metro will not act.
"You need disciplinary action, and I think they went about it the wrong way," she said. "When you do something wrong - no matter what it is, no matter what circumstance - you need to be punished for that."
Metro said the driver in question has been an employee for 9 years and has an excellent record.
Metro apologized to Nichole Hakimian for the inconvenience, but said a review found the driver did not break any rules.
The mother said she is not interested in any apology, and plans to take legal action.
"You don't just come out of nowhere and kick a mom off a bus with a sick child," she said.
Hakimian said a Metro driver told her and her 1-year-old son to get off two stops before her destination. She was headed to a medical clinic in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood at the time.
"I said, 'He has diarrehea. I'm on my way to a doctor's appointment for him. She said, 'I'm sorry. It's unbearable. You need to get off the bus,"' she said.
Hakimian said the driver insisted she get off even when she told the driver she only had two more stops to go.
"She said, 'Well, I'm sorry. It's just unbearable. You need to get off the bus,'" she said. "Nobody (else) on the bus was complaining at all."
Metro released the following statement:
"This is a very unique situation. Our goal is always to balance the comfort of all of our riders with providing good customer service. The driver didn't violate Metro policy - she felt she had to advocate for her passengers by politely and apologetically asking the woman to exit the bus."
The mother is not happy that Metro will not act.
"You need disciplinary action, and I think they went about it the wrong way," she said. "When you do something wrong - no matter what it is, no matter what circumstance - you need to be punished for that."
Metro said the driver in question has been an employee for 9 years and has an excellent record.
First things first.  I'm never wrong. Its easy to understand. I want what I want, when I want it.  Usually now!  Metro was created for my personal use. All others interests are secondary to my needs. When I don't get what I want, I want someone punished.  Clearly, I must sue to help everyone understand.  I am the most important person in the universe.Â
I was 3 months pregnant and had morning sickness so bad that I didn't eat or drink anything for 5 days. I was on a metro bus on the way to my OB appointment to try the 4th of many anti-nausea medications and was kicked off the bus almost a mile from my stop because I threw up.Â
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 @Rae Good for the driver! People don't need you barfing all over them on their way to work!
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 @Rae Well if the bus driver put you off the bus because you vomited on the bus, it was a good call. You gonna sue the bus driver now? Take it to the news? LoL.
She plans to take legal actions. Just another American realizing their real American dream. Sue someone or organization and get a bunch of money because THEY feel THEY were wronged or inconvenienced. Sick of these sue you happy lazy people. Change the damn diaper before you get on the us. If it gets soiled mid journey get off and change it again. Be considerate to others, the world doesn't revolve around you or your child. Not like the kid was dying.
 @Barlion be considerate of others. xactly the point! where was the consideration 4 her n her sick child? u dont have kids do u?!
 @Rae  @Barlion What's having kids got to do with this Rae? It's about a grown woman, knowing her kid had just taken a dump in it's diapers and smelling up the bus and you think everyone should just put up with that? I'd say you are in the minority of thinking here. It was a GOOD CALL on the bus driver's side. Just like it was when you had your butt put off, for vomiting. Â
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Hooray for common decency that the rest of us shouldn't have to put up with something that nasty....
This was a no win situation for both sides. However, I think Metro responded correctly based on the circumstances. However, I am tired of hearing from this mom how she was "bullied". While I am against bullying, I think that with all the bullying awareness going on now, anyone can claim that they are being "bullied" just because someone pissed them off. Her claim that no other passengers on the bus complained is B.S. Of course no one is going to complain because if someone was to raise a fuss, you can be sure that there will be hell to pay because kids are too overvalued in this society and "can do no wrong". I am sorry to hear that her child was sick, but at the same time, she had no right to make other people on the bus sick, after all, there are people who have weakened immune systems.
 @PoweroftheVoice Having a weakened immune system has nothing to do with your nose. Unless the child was causing a potentially dangerous situation or they were breaking the public transit rules, they could have toughed it out for the sake of a sick child and mother.
On the note for people with weakened immune systems....when you take public transit, your are making the decision to come in contact with potentially fatal diseases every moment you are out of a controlled environment. Â
She was 2 stops from her final destination. It's not like she was dumped off the bus in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, it wasn't raining, and she obviously has Metro & KOMO on speed dial. What I see here is a chronic complainer, probably claims mis-justice for just about every service she believes she's entitled to and unfortunately for her cute son, their 15 minutes of fame will forever be known just for the fact that he #%*^ his diaper! I have observed stinky, drunk, druggie adults being removed or asked to leave the bus at Metro many times....this is a sensitive issue, no doubt about it, but this "Mom" needs to be accountable for exposing 2 bus loads of people to her son's intestinal bug. If this goes before a judge -- it's total crap!! (Pun intended)
Wow, all these negative responses from the bleeding heart liberals in Seattle...OH WAIT, this involves a sick child. Nevermind, Seattle liberals hate babies! Seriously, if my child was sick (not all illness that requires a trip to the doctor warrants an ambulance) and the only transportation I had would be the Metro, forget the other passengers. If this had been a stinky homeless person, you can bet they wouldn't be kicked off. I'm embarrassed for Metro and for the lack of compassion. Bottom line is SICK CHILD. Period, the end.
That said, I do think that a lawsuit is over the top.
No, you don't come out of nowhere and kick a mother and her baby off a bus - you do so when the mother fails to take proper consideration of others onboard by bringing a filthy stinking baby on. She should have gotten off the bus, changed the diaper, and reboarded on the next go round. No sympathy for that gold digger.
 If the child was deathly ill she should of called for an ambulance. If she can afford to have two children a year a part I assume she can afford cab fare. How often does she use the I'm a pregnant Mother with a sick child ploy to get her way? Don't know about you but I feel no responsibility for this women's brood, I didn't put a gun to her head and force her to have them. If she's on welfare she could of also arranged for taxi script but I'm assuming she must have a few dollars squirreled away if she's hiring a lawyer.
I would be upset if I were pregnant, taking my sick little one to the doctor and ended up getting kicked off because of a diaper. I would be upset that it happened but I wouldn't blame the driver or sue Metro. It's not their fault my child produced a ripe one.
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My own child produced some horrific smelling diapers as a baby, mostly when he was ill, and I wouldn't want to be stuck on a bus with that stench. The best choice I could go with is to deal with it, change the diaper, call my doctor's office, and then catch the next bus.
This is gross. This woman drug her ill, stinky child into an enclosed bus with others...and she wants us to feel sorry for her? Give that bus driver a raise.
No lawyer would take this case if they didn't think they could win it. Â Unfortunately for Metro she was pregnant. Â From a legal standpoint the boy was already sick and needed medical attention. Â The bus driver kicked a sick 1 year old boy off the bus when he/she could have dropped him off two stop down right at the clinic. Â Basically the driver had a choice to make sure the boy got the treatment he needed or to throw him off the bus and hope he gets to the doctor. Â If I had been the driver I would have tollerated the stench and told any passenger that complained, if they need to get off the bus they can do that but I need to get this little boy to a doctor. Â It really isn't about the smell or who stinks or who is on wellfare, whether they should have driven or been driven etc... it's about a sick little boy who was alread misserable enough being kicked off the bus.
 @keri555 Thought I saw this comment already keri, we have 2 threads on the same subject going here it appears:  http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Woman-says-sons-stinky-diaper-got-her-kicked-off-Metro-bus-174707311.html
 @keri555 And no it wasn't just about a sick little boy, it's about the stink and everyone having to endure that when the right thing here would have been for the mother to get off the bus on her own, change the diaper and carry on. Using the kid's sickness is still yet another way for this one to play victim, when accountability here would be a good thing. She's a mother? Ok, but don't play the I'm also 4 months preggy bit, calling local TV station and then telling the World yer gonna sue because you were bullied.  Rubbish!
 @keri555 Bottom line she is a grown woman, knew that stink was bad, waited to be told it was bad, got put off because the stink was bad, called her local TV station because omg she was bullied and then is filing this ridiculous lawsuit. That stinks for lack of accountability and an entitlement attitude first, her first, and damn everyone else if they don't like the stink, because she's taking her "poor" sick kid to the doctor's office. And omg we got ourselves 4 months preggy and we should all fill sorry for her the bus driver had the nerve to put her off the bus. Oh please. Chapter and verse, she's got a Facebook site with some gangsta attitude and this whole Good Mother thing STINKS.Â
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The bus driver did the RIGHT thing here......
 @Frozty2U Please excuse the typos I am typing with only one hand today.
 @Frozty2U  @keri555 In the code of conduct fronm the city website the bus driver is labeled as a peacemaker not an enforcer,.  It states many comon sence guidelines that if not followed can get you kicked off the bus.  The one guideline that comes remotely close to this situation is that of the safety of the passengers.  The bus driver however did not mention the fact of safety only an unpleasant smell when kicking them off the bus.
 @keri555 What I mean, to clarify, is the bus is not this woman's personal taxi cab.....
 @keri555 Nope doubtful since when does a bus driver have to be responsible for a woman and her kid? Asking them to depart from the bus was the right thing to do. So what if she didn't have the reasoning to have to go to the Clinic, that she was merely put out because the kid dunked in his diaper? Still "poor mother got oppressed" bit? Don't think so.Â
 @Frozty2U  @keri555 Sure that is how you view it, but the bus driver may have a legal obligation to get the passengers to a medical clinic, or hospital if they need it.  Kicking this little boy off the bus surely didn't help his condition and could have made a bad situation worse. Â
Another reason why when you have kids you should get a damn car!!!! Especially for situations like this!!! IÂ never understand why people have 4 kids and then never try to get a car!!!! It doesn't matter what kind of car you can get one for $500!! As long as you and your kids aren't walking on the streets in the cold.
 @vlee Maybe someone doens't have a license or can't afford insurance, or car repair.  Those junky cars you get for 500.00 are money pits.  There's a lot more to owning a car than jusat buying one.  And then there is gas and parking.  I lived downtown for 7 years and never owned a car, too much hassle.
Oh, come on peopleâ¦that bus and the driver couldnât have tolerated this situation for two more stops? Is Seattle out of compassion? The Seattle Metro bus drivers have the WORST customer service ever! They have a public service job and a LOT of them treat the public like the enemy. I am 66 years young and ride these buses 5-days a week and am having my 3rd surgery this month from one of these thoughtless boobs slamming on the gas & brake suddenly while pulling into our stop, throwing me into a steel poleâ¦then this Monday morning another thoughtless jerk closed the back door on me while I was exiting the bus, catching my broken right hand and right knee in the door, because he couldnât bother to look he his mirrors before closing the door. HORRIBLE unnecessary crap goes on every day with King County Metro buses and the worst part isâ¦THEY DO NOT CARE about any of us!!!
Stay seated until the bus reaches a full stop to avoid future pole collisions.Â
 @P.J. see what victim mentality will get you? cry me a river.
 @T-Prop First thing that came to mind after P.J.s post... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiehDcVZ-vAÂ
Shame on Hakimian. Â Shame. Â So vindictive. Â And now the court system will have yet another frivolous lawsuit to deal with instead of real cases. Â Yes, she's angry, embarrassed and feeling protective of her child but she should settle down, accept the apology and move on. Â Her child was not injured in this interaction just her pride.
oink oink
Typical suburban heffer with a sense of entitlement and no consideration for others around her. And now a law suit, wow didn't see that coming... <wink>
It's bad enough to have to ride a bus to begin with, mix in a bunch of kids you have to drag along, and throw a sick one in, with a soiled diaper, that only the driver and passengers had to endure, maybe it's time for her to put her money to better use than cigarettes, tattoos (which can be very expensive) and Grand Canyon vacations and possibly invest in another form of transportation, I don't think this law suit will go anywhere, but you never know.
The bus stinks enough with people who do not take a shower, then add on some poop smell, the bus should have a oxygen mask, by the way take a good look at the mother.
wow, not seeing anyone on here empathetic to this mother. Â The bottom line she was on the bus with her child - everyone is saying how she "should" have gotten to the Dr. - well, she was on the bus. I empathize with her in regards to having a sick child and getting kicked off the bus. I'd be upset too. I've been on a flight with my 2 year old - its tough man. But, she's not going to have a payday here. Â She would have to show damages from having to leave the bus - and it sounds like the kids is fine.Â
 @shannonf0704 it'd be much easier to empathize if she weren't trying to sue Metro. Metro appollogized, admitted it was a tough call, yet stood by the driver.
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not like this happens everyday - the kid must have really smelled repulsive. this woman and her crazy eyebrows needs to go away.
Of course she is going to sue, no surprise there, welcome to the United States, land of getting rich by failing to take responsibility for your life. In that vein, everyone who rode the bus with her that day should sue her for exposing them to the illness her child had!
Wow! You stink up the bus and are asked to get off and you're going to sue? THIS is what's wrong with the USA. First, you have a kid you can't afford, then you take the first opportunity you can to sue someone just to get a financial windfall. Maybe when your kid is so sick that it's diarrheaing everywhere, you can take a cab or walk to the doctor's appointment. White trash!
the bus driver did the wright thing! would you want to smell that crud?
WOW! yesterday when I saw this article I commented that I felt sorry for the mother but I wondered why she waited to be asked to get off if her babies diaper was that stinky. What baffled me even more was that she went on TV to tell her story? why would someone do that? . I was wondering what her intent was! Now we know. Her poor kids!
This story is now on CNN.com!
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http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/us/2012/10/19/dnt-kicked-off-bus-for-stinky-diaper.komo
Married, pictures of vacations, 4 kids, on welfare and Medicaid but has tats like her husband and smokes. Nice priorities there - take a dang cab when your kid is sick. A parent should always have enough for cab fare to a hospital or doctor in a rainy day fund so you aren't taking an already ill child with a compromised immune system onto a giant tube of germs. I wouldn't care but considering she wants to sue for all this when a sick kid shouldn't be on a bus because she'd rather have smokes and tats over cab fare, lawsuits drive the costs of riding the bus up for everyone else because she was selfish... may not affect me in my state, but if she wins, so will others and pretty soon, she'll have made the world a little worse off because she's dumb and wants free cash to blow.
She is one of the people Mitt Romney was talking about when he made the 47% remark.Â
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While there are people who legitimately need help and work hard to get out of financial dire straits, there are people like this woman and her husband who are obscenely taking advantage of the system, on our dime.
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She is going to have a 5th kid?? Ever heard of birth control or using a condom??? Or, is it just easier to collect money for each kid you produce....unreal.
 @Smokin Bear She's doing gang symbols on her FB too....oh so bad, bad, bad.Â
 @Smokin Bear Scroll down psssst a few names here (pointing downward)
 @Smokin Bear Hey there Smokin, I think the link is still *here*. I was stunned when I reviewed some of the stuff this woman has on her FB. Really something. Those of you who are insisting on the poor little mother bit really need a wake up call here. She's got it rough sure having all those kids, having to use public transportation but that was her CHOICE at some point. No one made her have all these kids. Suing Metro isn't going to help her problem, which goes way deeper than a few buckeroos to be had....
@Frozty2U - Someone needs to 'capture' and send that FB page to Metro, before she can take it down. Might be useful in court if she tries to go forward with the suit.
yep, and now she (though i'm sure hsband is more then on board with this) sees her big moment. the moment where she gets what she thinks she desrves. hopefully the court laughs at her and makes this go away quickly.