Claim Alleges Ignored Emergency Call Led to Death

The family of a woman who died last summer after her deaf husband was unable to get an answer on the city’s 911 emergency phone system filed wrongful death claims Thursday against the city, county and state.

The claims by the family of Mary Bell Shufeldt allege that the San Diego Police Department failed to fulfill its promise of emergency help to the public and violated the state law that requires that police agencies install telecommunications equipment capable of serving the deaf.

Mrs. Shufeldt, 72, died July 17 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after collapsing in her San Diego home. Her husband, Jay, 74, has said he tried repeatedly to call for emergency help on his Teletype machine for the deaf but was unable to get through.

An internal investigation by the Police Department concluded in August that a 911 operator failed to recognize the signal transmitted by the machine. “She thought that children were playing with the phone,” and hung up twice, a police investigator said.

On Thursday, Gregg Relyea, attorney for Jay Shufeldt and his children, Gene and Jo, said the city, county and state have 45 days to respond to the claims. If they deny them or fail to respond, Relyea will be free to sue in Superior Court. The claims seek a maximum of $1 million in damages.

Relyea said the claims cite the county and state as well as the city because all three were involved in establishing 911 procedures. He said the claims allege that the procedures were inadequate in the area of training and supervising personnel and handling calls from the deaf.

The claims also cite the operator Relyea believes mishandled Shufeldt’s calls and her supervisor.

“It’s alleged in the claim that they are individually responsible for Mrs. Shufeldt’s death,” Relyea said. “The claim alleges that both the individuals and the government were responsible.”