COLUMBIANA COUNTY Man sues companies over his wife's death

The woman was killed when a machine fell on her.
LISBON -- An East Liverpool man is suing a Salem manufacturer in his wife's death about two years ago.
Darrin Harsh Sr., of 1535 Lisbon St., filed a suit recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court against Worthington Custom Plastics Inc. of 800 Pennsylvania Ave.
The company, a manufacturer of plastic parts, is now known as Blackhawk Automotive Plastics Inc.
Also named in the lawsuit is H/A Industries Inc. of Sterling Heights, Mich.
The lawsuit states that Michelle Harsh, 30, was killed May 10, 2000, when a machine she was moving at Worthington fell on her.
She was employed as a press operator, high-lift driver and a general maintenance laborer, the lawsuit states.
Suit's accusation
Worthington is accused in the action of failing to ensure that the machine would not tip or fall when moved. The company also knew that Harsh's moving the machine "constituted a dangerous process," yet still required her to do it, the lawsuit alleges.
A company spokesman could not be reached to comment.
Also stated in the lawsuit is that H/A Industries was the machine's manufacturer. The machine was defective as a result of its high center of gravity, narrow base and its propensity to tip over and fall upon workers, the lawsuit alleges.
Harsh is asking for a jury trial and that he be awarded more than $50,000 in damages.
The case has been assigned to Judge David Tobin of county common pleas court.