10/29/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, US // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Boynton Beach, FL—The husband of an elderly woman whose cries for help were allegedly “mishandled” filed a negligence lawsuit against Comcast, the couple’s phone provider, last week. The woman bled to death in her Boynton Beach home last Thanksgiving, according to an Oct. 27 Palm Beach Post report.
Sidell Reiner, 81, was preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and was home alone when she apparently dropped a piece of crystal glassware on her foot. Reiner suffered a severe laceration and subsequently dialed “0”.
According to the lawsuit filed in Palm Beach Circuit Court, while a Comcast operator subsequently transferred her call to a Boynton Beach police dispatcher, Comcast was unable to locate Reiner’s address.
“They have her address when it comes to a bill, but when it comes to saving her life, they can’t find her address?” asked the lawyer representing Sidell Reiner’s family and husband Seymour in the case.
After about 16 minutes, dispatchers were able to find Reiner’s address and send paramedics to her home, located in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue records indicated the doors and windows were locked upon their arrival. Rescue personnel reportedly attempted to look inside the home but did not see anyone.
More than an hour later, Seymour, 85, and his grandson walked into the home, only to be greeted with the tragic sight of Sidell’s lifeless body. The family’s attorney alleged Sidell died with the phone by her side.
Along with a pending lawsuit against Comcast, Seymour has filed notices of intent to sue the city of Boynton Beach and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue.
“It was a tragedy and it shouldn’t have happened, but it did and nothing is going to bring her back,” said Seymour.
Comcast would not comment on the pending litigation.
The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan– Legal News for Florida Personal Injury Lawyers.
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