Queens Family Sues Over Blizzard Death

The family of a Queens woman who died after waiting hours for an ambulance during last month’s blizzard announced plans Wednesday to sue the city.

Laura Freeman says her 75-year-old mother, Yvonne Freeman, might have survived a heart attack if paramedics got to their home earlier.

Queens Family Files Blizzard-Related Wrongful Death Suit

Freeman says it took her about 50 minutes to get through to 911. And because of snowy roads, it took EMS another hour and 45 minutes to get to the house.

Attorney Sanford Rubenstein is notifying the city of his plan to sue for $20 million.

It’s the first blizzard-related wrongful death suit.

via ny1.com

The City’s gonna have one hell of a time deflecting blame after the Mayor delivered his “we effed up” report to the City Council last week.

I’m not thrilled that $20 million will come out of the taxpayers’ pockets, but the city effed up and these people have a right to compensation for it.

And this is only the first. I promise it won’t be the last.

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  • http://twitter.com/jasondunn Jason Dunn

    50 minutes to get through to 911? What? WHAT? That seems more than a little problematic.

    I don’t get though how someone can hold emergency services to blame for awful weather. Busy 911 lines, yes, but the the heck can the city do about a blizzard?

    • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

      People couldn’t get through to 911 because the city wasn’t cleaning streets and every emergency was becoming a “we need someone to fix it” problem. EMS may not be to blame specifically, but the city as a whole has pretty much admitted they mishandled things. I don’t think they’re suing the Police and Fire Dept (who runs EMS) separately, just the city as an entire entity.

      It was a mess and the city really effed up badly.

  • http://twitter.com/jasondunn Jason Dunn

    50 minutes to get through to 911? What? WHAT? That seems more than a little problematic.

    I don’t get though how someone can hold emergency services to blame for awful weather. Busy 911 lines, yes, but the the heck can the city do about a blizzard?