A jury has been seated in Whiteside County to hear a high-profile wrongful death lawsuit involving the city of Rock Falls and its fire officials. The case stems from the December 2021 line-of-duty death of Sterling firefighter Captain Garrett Ramos, who died when the floor collapsed beneath him while fighting a house fire. Ramos’s widow, Brittney C. Ramos, and their children are seeking potentially tens of millions of dollars in damages. Testimony will focus on the circumstances leading to Ramos’s death, including unanswered mayday calls. Twelve jurors and two alternates will determine whether the city or its officials were negligent.
