Jury issues ruling for defendant in Trumbull lawsuit

Jury issues ruling for defendant in Trumbull lawsuit

WARREN — It took less than two hours for a Trumbull County Common Pleas Court jury to find in favor of a fence company in a lawsuit brought by the mother a 5-year-old boy who drowned in his neighbor’s swimming pool.

The verdict of the four-man, four-women jury was returned before noon today in the courtroom of Judge Peter J. Kontos.

The jury decided in favor of All Vinyl Fences and Decks Inc. and its owner Tina Hall of Southington when the two fences were constructed in 1997 at a Bellwood Drive home in Howland Township that has since been purchased by Michael Raggozine.

Ali Zaire, also of Bellwood, drowned May 12, 2004, after making his way through the two fences and getting in the pool.

The boy’s mother, Roxanne Preston, who had been paid $288,000 in a settlement with Raggozine’s insurance company, was seeking $1,710,173 from Hall and All Vinyl, which continues to operate under new ownership.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.