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Robinson also said that deposi- McNamara continued: “I had
tion testimony of a police sergeant confidence the court would
“provides evidence from which understand this messy law of gov-
a reasonable fact finder could A Superior Court judge ernmental immunity and apply
conclude that Curry violated nu- agreed with the city of the law correctly. If they had not
merous ministerial duties with New Haven in Cole v. City found that there were a number

respect to pursuits and police of- of New Haven that Officer of factual issues in this case, at-
ficer interactions with dirt bikes.” Nikki Curry was entitled torneys would be hard-pressed
Robinson continued: “Fur- to governmental immunity to want to take any kind of case
thermore, a complete roadblock after she pulled her cruiser where injury was caused by police
violated police department policy personnel driving a cruiser.”
as ‘there always has to be an open- directly into an oncoming Representing the city of New
ing for that vehicle to be able to traffic lane in which
continue on.’’’ Haven were Susman, Duffy &
Amaadi Cole was traveling Segaloff attorneys Thomas Ka-
Cole’s co-counsel attorney, Thom- on his dirt bike. ton, Philip Kent and Adam

as McNamara, said the message Miller and New Haven attorney
in the rule reversal for attorneys is Roderick Williams. None of the
“with the right set of facts, the court- attorneys responded to a request
house is now open to them. This was a fair ruling.” for comment.
“The main things about this case is that the chief Assisting McNamara was James Healy of the Law
justice recognized that it was a violation of New Ha- Offices of Cowdery & Murphy in Hartford.
ven’s department policy that roadblocks are not to ¦

be used except in very specific situations of which Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
this case did not even come close,” said McNamara, analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
a personal injury and trial attorney with McNamara him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
& Goodman in New Haven. 203-437-5950.

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