Family say may sue New York city over snowstorm death

[The Northerner]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The family of an elderly woman who died waiting for an ambulance during a massive snow storm took the first step toward filing a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking $20 million in damages from New York City.

Yvonne Freeman, 75, reported breathing problems to her daughter Laura on December 27, 2010, when the city was snowbound, and died from a heart attack before the ambulance arrived, family attorney Sanford Rubenstein said.

The daughter tried almost 45 minutes before reaching a 911 emergency operator, and they waited nearly three hours for the ambulance to arrive, he said.

"Had the city done what it had the duty to do, this tragedy would not have occurred," Rubenstein said. The family filed a legal notice of claim, which is the first step to a formal lawsuit, with the city on Wednesday.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110119/us_nm/us_weather_death