Dead Dispatcher’s Family Plans To Sue City
by Paul Bass | Apr 28, 2011 1:31 pm
At the time, Jennifer Lynn Coutermash’s death earned a three-sentence blotter item: a woman, not wearing a seat belt, loses control of her car while driving southbound on I-91. She crashes, dies. Six months later, her estate is charging that a city cop was following her on the highway at high speed that night and caused the crash.
That allegation appears in a notice filed with the city Wednesday afternoon. The legal filing—alerting the city about an upcoming lawsuit—was submitted on behalf of Coutermash’s estate.
Coutermash (pictured), a New Haven police dispatcher and mother of three, died in the crash by Exit 6 of Interstate 91 on Friday, Oct. 29, at around 7 p.m.
Her death, announced in a state police release, attracted little notice at the time. It merited one paragraph in an Associated Press roundup of statewide fatal accidents: “State police say that at about 7 p.m. Friday, Jennifer Coutermash of North Haven lost control of her vehicle, which hit a jersey barrier on Interstate 91 in New Haven before rolling over. The 29-year-old Coutermash, a New Haven police dispatcher, was ejected from the vehicle and state police say she died at the scene.” (Subsequent obituaries put her age at 30.)
In a “notice of claim pursuant to CT General Statute Section 7-465” sent Wednesday to Police Chief Limon and filed with the city clerk, William J. Coutermash offered a different version of the crash. Coutermash, Jennifer’s ex-husband, is the administrator of her estate; he wrote that the estate intends to sue the city, Mayor John DeStefano, the police department, Chief Limon, and a veteran cop based on a wrongful death claim.
As Jennifer Coutermash drove southbound on I-91 that fateful night, the letter charges, the police officer “was chasing, intimidating, following and/or harassing [her].” The letter claims that the officer was speeding and “repeatedly texting and calling [Coutermash] while she was attempting to operate her motor vehicle while he was chasing, intimidating, harassing and/or following her.”
“A combination of the driving maneuvers engaged in by” the officer, plus “other significant distractions he created by virtue of his actions, the decedent was caused to lose control of her vehicle causing her vehicle to strike the jersey barrier resulting in her being ejected from the vehicle and the vehicle rolling over her whereby she sustained serious personal injuries which resulted in her death,” the letter charges. It contends that the officer drove at an “unreasonable” speed, followed “too closely,” “failed to grant the right of way” or to “drive in an established lane”; and “crowded, pushed and/or bumped the decedent’s vehicle causing the decedent to lose control of her vehicle ultimately resulting in her death.”
The letter cites an “ongoing investigation” into the accident. City police said the state police are handling the investigation. State police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance said Thursday that he did not immediately recall the case, but that he would look into it.
The officer, a respected longtime member of the force, could not be reached for comment.
Chief Limon, who hadn’t yet seen the notice of intent to sue Thursday morning, referred questions to the city’s legal department.
“The corporation counsel is reviewing the matter” and will “respond accordingly at the appropriate time,” said mayoral spokesman Adam Joseph.
A family member reached for comment said questions should be directed to the estate’s lawyer, Michael Milazzo of New Haven. Milazzo said Thursday that he represents the ex-husband on the estate but not in this suit.
Ronald Hobson, who represents police dispatchers as president of AFSCME Local 884, said that the accident upset him.
A month or two before Coutermash’s passing, Hobson said, he had gone to visit her. Coutermash had been missing a lot of work, he said.
“She was so fragile. She was a little woman,” Hobson said. “She had a bubbly personality, a very nice girl.”
Coutermash told him “everything was under control,” Hobson said. “She said she would be OK.”
“Even now I get emotional,” Hobson said. “That woman should not have died like that.”
A police dispatcher Thursday said Coutermash was well-liked by her colleagues. “We started [on the job] together,” the dispatcher said Thursday. “She was sweet. She was easy to get along with. She was always smiling; I don’t think there is a picture of her without a smile.”
An online guest book for Coutermash sponsored by West Haven Funeral Home attracted 43 testimonials.
Here’s what Coutermash’s 8-year-old daughter wrote: “mommy i love u soooo much this is ... still the age of 8 i love you soooooo much mommmy i hope you still remember me i still remember u and i remember u coming into my room asking me if i was going to your house and while i was getting my clothes you would fall alsleep on my bed and that is how you looked at your weck you looked like sleeping beauty still as beautiful i love u mommy ... ”
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posted by: Annie on April 28, 2011 1:48pm
Whoah. Do we need that last paragraph in this story? Really, it is completely unrelated to the story and clearly out of place here. This is a serious subject—please don’t cheapen your coverage of it by including a quote like that from someone’s young child. There’s no need.
posted by: chicwa on April 28, 2011 2:38pm
Can someone please explain to me how the City of New Haven is responsible for this?
If the city police office was behaving as it is alleged in the suit, then he is clearly acting on his own, and not in his duty as an officer.
I don’t get it.
posted by: Jon Doe on April 28, 2011 3:06pm
Did she ever file a complaint with the department or with her union, The story does say. Or is this just the family coming up with this to place blame one. Why didn’t she call 911 from her car. The state police would have gotten to the bottom of this.
posted by: Da Hill on April 28, 2011 3:17pm
@ chicwa- this will depend heavily on whether or not the alleged officer was in his police cruiser, had she filed subsequent complaints against said officer for harassment, is there a documented history of conflict between the deceased and the officer, was he on the job when these acts took place, etc. The city is very much liable if the facts indicate that some if not all of the above is true.
Also, I am assuming that her cell records indicated numerous calls/text during the time proceeding the accident…
(Editor)-I do agree with Annie…there is absolutely no correlation between what this ladies daughter wrote about her and the facts of the investigation nor lawsuit. It is intended to elicit an emotion; however, it is completely out of place and cheapens the article!
posted by: First on scene on April 28, 2011 4:22pm
I was first on scene of this accident and the second I got there thought that this NHPD [officer] was some how involved. He was already on scene when I got there (made me say HMMM). He was on duty and in his police vehicle. ... This is to keep all you haters on this blog quiet.
posted by: Fairhaven Dave on April 28, 2011 4:29pm
IF they can prove any of this I understand that they might sue the person who caused her to crash. Or insist that a homicide investigation should follow. But, it’s not like the whole city was chasing her like some Shirley Jackson short story or turning a blind eye to a dangerous stalker.
And Paul, that last paragraph… come on, dude. Time to get out from behind the desk and step away from the “google research”, eh?
posted by: Anon on April 28, 2011 6:46pm
“What does that even mean anymore?” You forgot that quote, from Jen’s sister, referring to the lawsuit.
As you said in your 1st paragraph, When she was killed the incident made 3 lines in the news. You didn’t seem to care much then.
Now you want to write a poorly written article, referring to Jen as “Dead Dispatcher”, with a quote from Jen’s 8 year old daughter.
Maybe the article should have been titled “City sued after Police Sergeant blamed for dispatchers death”
posted by: Alexs on April 28, 2011 7:51pm
Actually the last paragraph really touched me and put a human face on this case. It is difficult to prosecute the authorities and they tend to dehumanize the victim in their defense. So I feel it is definitely good journalism to inject the emotion into a story as tragic as this so we keep the story alive and in our conscience. Hopefully the true facts will emerge and not be buried by the authorities. It appears the initial investigation did attempt to bury the facts about the NHPD officer. If these allegations are true it is murder.
posted by: babe on April 28, 2011 8:33pm
william coutermash was not her ex husband he was her husband and i agree we don’t need to put what her children said leave them alone let them heal they have been through enough and to the first on the scene blog we all wondered how he was first one there he told different stories to different people
posted by: First on scene on April 28, 2011 9:33pm
If This Officer was involved in this it should have been caught by the traffic cam and that night right after I went on the state web site and there was a perfect shot of the accident scene. I hate to talk out of school but if there was any wrong doing on the officers part or anything was covered up that is just wrong. This girl has three young kids. This one really hit me hard and I still think about it. There is so much more to this story.
posted by: unknown on April 28, 2011 10:17pm
William is and was not Jenny’s Ex-husband!!!!!
They were still married, so where ever you got that information, it was incorrect, Please get your facts straight before you publish anything.
posted by: JUST SAYING on April 28, 2011 11:41pm
Mr. Paul Bass,
It’s people like you who project to understand and be even remotely sympathetic to an eight year old girl who just lost her mother. Was is necessary to go ahead and repeat in an article (which had no bearing on the subject matter) the personal words of an eight year old to her mother. Next time use better judgment! Have a little common curiosity for the deceased! Clearly your last paragraph has offended lots, not to much the people that are actually involved in this child’s life!
[Response: Thank you for these comments. I was 8 when I lost my mother, and I know what a huge deal it is. I thought the girl’s feelings were valid and relevant, to what happens when a mother’s life is taken. I respect what you and other commenters are saying, too; it was my feeling, right or wrong, that her voice deserved to be heard. We did not intend to offend.]
posted by: Laurie on April 29, 2011 8:13am
I agree with Annie and Da Hill. As tragic as this woman’s death may be, to end with that quote was pure sensationalism. I thought the Independent was above that.
posted by: Mike on April 29, 2011 10:10am
I dont get it. So there was a cop right behind her when this happened? How can you be followed at a high rate of speed unless you are driving at a high rate of speed?
posted by: What??? on April 29, 2011 11:48am
I did not know Jennifer, but my condolences and prayers go out to her family and friends. I do not think her young daughters quote should have been used in this article, because it takes the focus off what I believe was the focus of this article… the police officers involvement/cover-up during this tragedy. I think the mistake of calling her husband her ex in some postings probably came from the childs quote about “going to your house” to her mom. Again, I think that was unnecessary and clearly hurtful to include. It was beautiful writing for the family to read in the context it was meant to be a memorial remembrance…not sensationalized for an article. I do hope their is a state police investigation into this, so the family will feel the investigation is fair. Also, cell phone records for both parties and any reports to the union reps, supervisors or friends should be looked into. Please know the number of people interested in reading and responding to this article means that Jennifer did matter .
posted by: robn on April 29, 2011 1:13pm
Unless there was a complete coincidence and a New Haven cop caught a NHPD dispatcher speeding (why would he be patrolling the highway?) and unless that dispatcher was trying to flee from the officer (kindof unlikely) then this sounds like a case of harassment.
posted by: guinevere on April 29, 2011 8:21pm
Wow. After listening to dozens of cops, tell dozens of pedestrians,dozens of times, that they don’t chase after red light runners and folks barrelling onto the highway. ( at York and Frontage)
I think Robn made a very good comment,and brought up some crucial points in a sentence or two.
posted by: maggie on April 30, 2011 12:45am
OK the dept needs to tell the truth…. Whoever knows the truth should speak up.
posted by: newhavenfinest on April 30, 2011 10:28am
i always knew there was more to this story, there was never an explanation on to what happened to cause this. she was estranged but was getting back together with her husband at the time and while she was estranged she was dating an officer at nhpd, ... where are the other newspapers on this story, new haven?
posted by: Just the facts on April 30, 2011 10:43am
Sounds like sensationalism or maybe someone looking for easy money. Mr. Bass please post an update if any actual evidence is found against any officer.
posted by: cant say on here.. on April 30, 2011 5:53pm
I am a witness of that ... cop following her for about 45 min then calling her asking if i was her new boyfriend, all I was is a friend of hers, he’s crazy , plus he’s married, she didn’t report anything because she felt bad , she was caring .. but anyways he followed her a lot , when he passed us on rt80 one time we watched him do a u turn right in the middle of traffic , I couldn’t beleiave it.. I was actually nervous .. I dont wanna say who iam right now, but if it would help then I would..Jen told me tons of story’s and crazy shit that dude did.
posted by: Just the facts on April 30, 2011 11:22pm
@can’t say on here
If what your saying is at all true then why hide who you are?
posted by: chingy on May 1, 2011 11:45am
@ can’t say on here… sounds like you could be an accessory to any foul play if you continue to keep quiet. If what you claim to know is true, and can be proven, you owe it to Jenn to speak up.
posted by: Fairhaven Dave on May 1, 2011 11:53am
Most of these witness claims are about as verifiable as a random entry in a funeral home memorial webpage.
If you DID suspect a homicide why didn’t you step forward sooner? Not saying anything makes you an accessory, right? Man up and defend the wrongful death! Afraid someone might GET YA!? Set your cell phone to record and upload with a single click. Wear a gun. Record your phone calls. You can protect yourself and stop crime safely if you just do it.
Based on the evidence released thus far, this deserves to be laughed out of court by a jury of their peers at great expense to the frivolous suitors. A jury who wears seat-belts, ignores their phones while driving, and realizes that being tailgated means slow down, not speed up regardless of being “chased” by a… cop. Unfortunately we have a lot of ambulance chasing lawyers per square mile in this town who are great at appearing correct and confident when they can make 1/3 of your winnings.
posted by: Do what's right on May 1, 2011 12:09pm
To can’t say here:
If you know something and are not willing to come forward to help then you are just as bad as the cop that “might” have been a contributing factor to the accident. If you are a true friend then come forward.
Sometimes the right thing isn’t always popular, and the popular thing isn’t always right.
posted by: anon on May 1, 2011 5:12pm
@ Chingy, I think maybe you may have misconstrued some of what was said, “can’t say on here” was not talking about this particular day, therefore he would not be seen as an accessory.
@ Fairhaven Dave, Everybody who knew Jenny did suspect foul play, the NHPD sergeant was 1st on scene, however did change his story several times, 1 of which he mentioned being stuck in the traffic jam which was caused by the accident…
Most people are not aware, but during an investigation like this, authorities would not announce it to the media, especially when a police sergeant is involved. So it’s very likely that there is an ongoing investigation. As law enforcement personnel I can say “can’t say on here”‘s claim has no relevance to this particular incident.
I do however think, that sergeant should come forward and admit what really happened that night, before all the details come out.
posted by: Common Sense on May 1, 2011 6:38pm
I agree that it was tasteless and exploitive to include the 8-year-old daughter’s comments from her mother’s memorial page.
