A New Jersey man has filed a lawsuit against the Township of Teaneck, its fire department, and a firefighter, alleging he suffered permanent injuries after a fire truck struck his vehicle on the Fourth of July in 2024.
BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — A Morris County man is suing the Township of Teaneck, the Teaneck Fire Department, and one of its firefighters, claiming he sustained permanent injuries in a collision involving a fire truck on July 4, 2024.
According to a complaint filed Tuesday in Bergen County Superior Court, plaintiff Wilson C. Mantilla Vasquez alleges firefighter Andrew T. Kearney operated a Teaneck fire truck in a “careless, reckless and negligent manner,” causing the crash.
Lawsuit alleges permanent injuries
The complaint states Mantilla Vasquez was stopped in front of 100 Frank W. Burr Boulevard in Teaneck when the incident occurred.
The lawsuit alleges Kearney was operating a fire truck owned by the Township of Teaneck and the Teaneck Fire Department when the collision occurred. The filing claims the plaintiff suffered “severe permanent personal injuries,” shock to his nervous system, pain and suffering, and an inability to perform his normal daily activities.
The complaint further alleges the plaintiff sustained a permanent loss of bodily function and permanent disfigurement, with medical expenses exceeding the threshold established under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act.
Township accused of liability
In addition to alleging negligence by Kearney, the lawsuit claims the Township of Teaneck and the Teaneck Fire Department are liable under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which can hold employers responsible for actions taken by employees within the scope of their employment.
The complaint also alleges the township and fire department negligently entrusted the fire truck to Kearney.
Court filings state notices of claim were served on the public entities on Aug. 30, 2024, as required under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act. More than six months have passed since those notices were filed without a resolution, the lawsuit states.
Plaintiff seeks jury trial
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages, interest, attorney’s fees where permitted, and court costs. It also demands a jury trial.
The complaint includes placeholder defendants identified as John and Jane Does, a common legal practice allowing additional parties to be added if discovery identifies others who may have contributed to the incident.
As with all civil complaints, the allegations represent the plaintiff’s claims. The defendants have not yet filed a response in court, and the allegations have not been adjudicated.
Key Points
- A Morris County man has sued Teaneck, its fire department, and a firefighter over a July 4, 2024, crash involving a fire truck.
- The lawsuit alleges the plaintiff suffered permanent injuries because the fire truck was operated negligently.
- The defendants have not yet filed a response, and the allegations remain unproven.
Related: Teaneck, Teaneck Fire Department, Bergen County Superior Court, New Jersey Tort Claims Act, Wilson C. Mantilla Vasquez, Andrew T. Kearney