The girlfriend of a man who died while waiting for an ambulance during one of the worst snowstorms in Pittsburgh history is now being countersued by the city.

It's the latest strange turn in this often confusing case.

The children of the man who died originally filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Pittsburgh after the city's paramedics failed to get to the man's house during a snowstorm that dumped 20 inches of snow across the city in February of 2010.

Dispatchers told the man to walk to an ambulance that was located a quarter mile away, according to a news story on WTAE. The man's girlfriend was the person who called 911 to request an ambulance.

In late October, the city of Pittsburgh countersued this woman. Though a reporter for Channel 4 Action News in Pittsburgh asked the city why it countersued the woman, a spokesperson for the city, said that city officials will not comment on pending litigation.

An attorney for the family of the man who died, though, said that the victim's children are not happy with the city's actions. The attorney was quoted as saying that it was "outrageous" for the city to countersue the person who was trying to call an ambulance for help. The attorney told the WTAE reporter that the city should instead take responsibility for its actions.

It's always tragic when people die because of weather-related injuries. It's worse, though, when these tragedies could have been avoided. It's too early to say if this man's death could have been stopped by better city services. What looks like a long legal battle will hopefully provide the answer to this question.

Source: WTAE, "Girlfriend Of Man Who Died Waiting For Ambulance Now Part Of Lawsuit," Oct. 28, 2011