Blizzard of Lawsuits in NYC? Woman Says Mother Could be Alive if City Didn't Botch Snowstorm

NEW YORK (CBS/AP/WCBS) A woman who says her mother could still be alive if it weren't for New York's poor response to a Christmas weekend blizzard plans to sue the city.

A lawyer for the daughter of Yvonne Freeman says Freeman, 75, died from a heart attack on Dec. 27 while waiting hours for an ambulance. Her daughter, Laura, plans to file a $20 million wrongful-death lawsuit.

Her lawyer filed a notice of claim against the city and several agencies Wednesday, the first step in filing a civil suit.

The city's Law Department says the case involves a "tragic situation." It says it's awaiting the legal papers.

Laura Freeman said that for nearly three hours right after the blizzard, the 911 system failed, according to CBS station WCBS.

The storm dumped 20 inches of snow in some parts of the city.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said the city's cleanup was handled poorly.