Court Rules Conn. Widow Can't Sue Firefighters

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the widow of a fallen Waterbury firefighter can't sue the firefighters behind the wheel of the apparatus at the time of the fatal 2007 crash, according to The Republican-American.

The ruling upheld decisions by lower courts that said Monica Keane, the widow of Capt. John Keane, could not sue firefighters Joseph Fischetti and William Mahoney.

The court also ruled that the firefighters cannot sue each other, blocking a separate lawsuit claiming negligence against Fischetti by Mahoney.

In the May 9, 2007 collision, Truck 1, driven by Mahoney and Engine 12, driven by Fischetti, collided on Aurora Street while responding to a kitchen fire, according to the report.

Keane was sitting next to Fischetti in the engine when the crash occurred and an investigation determined neither were wearing seat belts and that they ran a red light, failing to give the ladder truck the right of way.