The mother and sister of the woman who froze to death last year after getting out of a car being driven by state Rep. James O'Rourke, D-Cromwell, a deputy speaker and longtime lawmaker, have filed suit against O'Rourke. Carol Sinisgalli froze to death in a snowbank on Jan. 22, 2009.

Carol Sinisgalli froze to death in a snowbank on Jan. 22, 2009.The suit brought by Lorraine and Joan Sinisgalli, the administrators of Carol Sinisgalli's estate, charges O'Rourke with recklessness and negligence that contributed to the woman's death.

The suit brought by Lorraine and Joan Sinisgalli, the administrators of Carol Sinisgalli's estate, charges O'Rourke with recklessness and negligence that contributed to the woman's death.O'Rourke and Sinisgalli were both at Digger McDuff's Tavern in Rocky Hill when Sinisgalli, who had allegedly removed her shoes and coat, got into an altercation with another patron and was instructed to leave the bar, whose staff also called police.

O'Rourke and Sinisgalli were both at Digger McDuff's Tavern in Rocky Hill when Sinisgalli, who had allegedly removed her shoes and coat, got into an altercation with another patron and was instructed to leave the bar, whose staff also called police.The suit alleges that staff from the bar, which is also named as a defendant, locked Sinisgalli outside, without her coat, purse, cell phone or shoes, on a night when the temperature had dropped to the teens.

The suit alleges that staff from the bar, which is also named as a defendant, locked Sinisgalli outside, without her coat, purse, cell phone or shoes, on a night when the temperature had dropped to the teens.O'Rourke has said he chose to depart around that time, and that Sinisgalli jumped into his car. The lawmaker has said he attempted to drive Sinisgalli home, but that she eventually became combative, jumping out of his car at an intersection he believed to be near her condominium.

O'Rourke has said he chose to depart around that time, and that Sinisgalli jumped into his car. The lawmaker has said he attempted to drive Sinisgalli home, but that she eventually became combative, jumping out of his car at an intersection he believed to be near her condominium.Sinisgalli's body was found the next morning in a snowy section of woods near train tracks, by a cross-country skier who was passing by.

Sinisgalli's body was found the next morning in a snowy section of woods near train tracks, by a cross-country skier who was passing by.The suit alleges O'Rourke was negligent in agreeing to drive Sinisgalli home without knowing where she lived, in removing her from the relative safety of the bar parking lot, and in failing to either drive Sinisgalli to the nearby Rocky Hill police station or call the police once he knew she had jumped out of the car in her apparently impaired condition.

A state prosecutor declined to sign a warrant charging O'Rourke with negligence in the case last year, after months of negotiation. He was restored to his position of deputy speaker after the prosecutor's decision.

The suit alleges O'Rourke was negligent in agreeing to drive Sinisgalli home without knowing where she lived, in removing her from the relative safety of the bar parking lot, and in failing to either drive Sinisgalli to the nearby Rocky Hill police station or call the police once he knew she had jumped out of the car in her apparently impaired condition.The family is seeking both punitive and monetary damages from O'Rourke and the bar.

The family is seeking both punitive and monetary damages from O'Rourke and the bar.