COLUMBIANA COUNTY Judge dismisses suit in gun death of teen

Sheriff's department officials were named in the suit but were later dropped.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A judge has dismissed a lawsuit in the 1996 death of a teen-ager who was shot while staying at a Unity Township home.
Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court did not give the basis for the dismissal in a judgment entry filed this week.
Attorneys representing the parties were unavailable Friday to comment.
Teresa Sauerwein of East Palestine filed the suit in April 1999 against Wayne and Kathy Harmon of 1350 Beard Road, and officials of the sheriff's department.
Was foster child: The lawsuit, which sought an unspecified amount in damages, was prompted by the death of Sauerwein's son, Anthony Barnhart, 16.
The lawsuit didn't specify the Harmons' relationship, but said that Anthony was staying with them as a foster child.
During his stay, he was shot in the head while handling a handgun in a bedroom at the residence, authorities said.
In her lawsuit, Sauerwein alleged that the Harmons were negligent for having the handgun and for allowing it to be discharged.
Also originally named in the lawsuit was then-county Sheriff Richard Koffel, and other sheriff's department officials.
In August 1999, Koffel and the department officials were dropped from the suit after a judge determined that the statute of limitations on suing government employees had expired.
Critical of probe: The lawsuit maintained that sheriff's officials "performed their investigation in a wanton and reckless manner which sabotaged and ruined" the probe into Anthony's death.
Department officials contended that the investigation was properly handled and that the teen's death probably was accidental.