State Supreme Court Agrees to Hear 911 Case

The New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of Jersey City over a civil lawsuit filed by the family of three people murdered in 2005, and who claim a 911 calls from the victims’ apartment were mishandled by Jersey City dispatchers. Marcia Wilson and her young three children were stabbed repeatedly by Wilson’s brother during a violent attack. Wilson and two children were killed. A neighbor’s wireless 911 call reporting screams from Wilson’s apartment was mishandled, the lawsuit claimed, and police who eventually arrived at the apartment did not properly investigate. Two other 911 calls were also mishandled, the lawsuit claimed. A trial court dismissed the lawsuit, saying the defendants were given immunity under specific state law regarding public safety answering points (PSAP). But an appellate court reinstated the lawsuit against the city and its dispatchers. Now the city is appealing that ruling, and the state Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. Read more about the latest action here, download (pdf) the plaintiff’s appellate court brief here, and download (pdf) the appeals court decision here.