Family of girl killed in accident files lawsuit over lawn tractor

LISBON -- The family of a girl killed last summer in a lawn-tractor accident has filed a nearly $35 million wrongful-death lawsuit.
Todd Taylor, 4039 Woodville Road, Fairfield Township, the girl's father, filed the lawsuit earlier this week in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. Also listed as plaintiffs are Taylor's wife, Casey, and their two surviving daughters.
Named as defendants are the John Deere Co., Moline, Ill., and the Vernon Dell Tractor Sales Co., East Liverpool.
The lawsuit says the John Deere lawn tractor that ran over and killed Shelby Taylor, 5, on June 17, 2002, was poorly designed and that the manufacturer and the sales company were negligent in providing the machine to the public.
Jerry Thompson, a Vernon Dell manager, declined to comment Friday.
Authorities said Shelby's mother, Casey, was mowing the lawn at the family's home when the child approached the tractor at an angle as her mother was beginning to turn.
It was unclear why Shelby came toward the machine.
Casey Taylor tried to hit the tractor's brake but pushed the accelerator instead, causing the tractor to lunge and run over the girl, who died at the scene, authorities said.
The Taylors are represented by Atty. Lawrence Smith of Akron and Atty. Michael Connick of Cleveland. The case is assigned to Judge David Tobin.