Suit seeks damages for stress in friend's death

7/12/2012

A lawsuit has been filed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on behalf of a girl who claimed emotional distress after witnessing the death of a friend in a mechanical gate outside her apartment complex.

Nigayle Marsh filed the complaint Tuesday on behalf of her daughter, Paradyce Louis. The suit said the youngster witnessed the death of 11-year-old Ahjzanae Triplett, who became trapped in the gate July, 11, 2010, and died of compressive asphyxia.

The suit, assigned to Judge James Jensen, claims emotional distress and medical expenses from defendants Wallick Properties Midwest; Museum Place Apartments; Museum Place Limited Partnership; Museum Neighborhood Corp.; gate manufacturer Operator Specialty Company Inc. of Casonovia, Calif., as well as C-Gate Entry Systems in Sylvania. It asks for damages in excess of $25,000.

Also pending in Common Pleas Court before Judge Linda Jennings is a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in 2011 by Ahjzanae's mother, Alesia Abbott, against the same defendants.

That case is scheduled for trial Feb. 4.