Coffey v. City of New York

Plaintiff Angelette Coffey and decedents were injured on New Year’s Eve 1998 when their automobile was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by defendant Rodriguez, a city correction officer later determined to be intoxicated. The record reflects that Rodriguez had been sent for inpatient alcohol rehabilitation three years earlier, due to persistent lateness and absenteeism. After release, he failed to continue treatment on an outpatient basis. His record of employment reveals various infractions and a prior accident on the job, but with no alcohol involvement. Rodriguez testified at deposition that…