Topeka ? A woman who shot herself in the head and survived has filed a lawsuit alleging emergency workers were negligent when they left her for dead.

Janet Morris seeks more than $100,000 in damages in the lawsuit filed last week in Shawnee County District Court. The suit names county commissioners, Sheriff Dick Barta, township board members and Soldier Township Fire Chief Richard Maginot as defendants.

Morris called 911 after surviving the Nov. 15, 2000, suicide attempt.

Her attorney, Leonard Robinson, said sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, presumed she was dead and were “negligent in not examining” her. Soldier Township Fire Department personnel also were sent to the scene and left.

Morris woke up about 30 minutes after her first 911 call and made another emergency call.

The same personnel responded.

“She was left lying there in stark terror, and she was semiconscious enough to know what was going on,” Robinson said.

Morris is recovering, Robinson said.

“She has quite a bit of damage to her jaw, and that creates some difficulties,” Robinson said.

After the incident, Barta and Maginot said they were embarrassed. Barta called the botched emergency call a mistake that never should have happened.

Shawnee County counselor Rich Eckert said he was dismayed when he found out the suit had been filed. He said it’s unfair to hold a sheriff’s deputy up to the same standards as regular emergency personnel.

“They’re going to have to show that the delay caused her specific harm that’s above and beyond the gunshot wound,” Eckert said.