John Bavolacco Jr.’s family claims the 63-year-old Stratford man died as the result of complications that arose after EMS personnel dropped a board on which they were carrying him to an ambulance.
The lawsuit also names EMS members Katherine Vagasky, Aaron Kang and Christopher Lovell as defendants. The suit is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.
Salvatore DePiano, the family’s attorney, Stratford Assistant Town Attorney Richard Burturla, and representatives of Stratford EMS could not be reached for comment.
The suit alleges that on July 5, 1999, Bavolacco felt ill and EMS was summoned at about 4:25 p.m.
The three defendants and the Fire Department responded. The suit does not say what illness or injury caused Bavolacco’s family to call for help, though it says he suffered from bronchial pneumonia.
The complaint asserts that Vagasky was carrying the foot end of the board to which Bavolacco was strapped, while Kang carried the head. It continues that Vagasky allegedly declined assistance in carrying the board when asked by firefighters, Lovell and a family member just before dropping her end.
Bavolacco hit his head, shoulder and other parts of his body on his home’s concrete steps and the sidewalk, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims Bavolacco as "a direct result of the carelessness and negligence of the defendants," sustained aggravation of the pneumonia, arrhythmia leading to pulmonary edema, traumatic shock, contusions to his head, face and body and other injuries.
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