Mineola, New York. In January 2011, Michael and Linda Grasso learned that their 17 year old daughter, Isabella, an honor student at Sacred Heart Academy and an actress/model who had appeared on the television show Law and Order was involved in a serious car crash near their home in Lattingtown. Isabella was pronounced dead at the Nassau County Medical Center some two hours later.
Since January the Grasso family has been trying to secure information about the crash including what caused it to occur and what steps were taken by the County to provide her with emergency care. The Grassos have met with or spoken to the County Executive; the Police Commissioner; the Chief of Vehicular Crimes for the Nassau District Attorney's Office and others in an attempt to secure records relating to the crash including flight log books for the helicopter that took her to the Medical Center and 911 calls. The Police Department and County Executive promised these records months ago and all promised another investigation involving the crash. They have since not reported to the Grassos or provided them with any records. The Grassos believe that this is part of a cover up by the County to conceal their negligence in providing immediate medical attention that could have saved her life.
Michael and Linda Grasso, the parents of Isabella, confirmed that their own investigation has thus far shown neglect on the part of the county and a delay in her transport to a medical facility. Michael Grasso stated: "Glen Cove Hospital was thirty seconds away. North Shore Hospital's Manhasset Trauma Center was closer and so was St. Francis. Our review has shown that they took our daughter, while she was conscious and talking, to Glen Cove High School where they waited for at least 45 minutes for a helicopter to arrive and transport her to the Nassau County Medical Center. The delay was critical. There was a further delay in necessary treatment once she got to the Medical Center that was a contributing cause of her death."
Linda Grasso, Isabella's mother, said "We have been in a state of shock over our daughter's untimely and needless death. Our unheeded request for information has taken us from frustration to controlled anger."
Thomas F. Liotti, the Grasso's attorney acknowledged that they have filed a Notice of Claim against the County. He called for an immediate investigation by the New York State Special Investigations Prosecutor who is already involved in an extensive investigation of Nassau's Police Department Laboratory and District Attorney's Office. Said Mr. Liotti: "Our County Government is inept and dysfunctional on many levels. Its solutions to problems are to hide and cover up. That is unacceptable in a free and open society. We will get to the bottom of this one way or the other."
Contact Person: Wendy Liotii (516) 794-4700
