Family sues over injuries
The girl, now 17, has burns to 30 percent of her body.
YOUNGSTOWN — An Austintown girl and her parents have filed a $5 million lawsuit against another Austintown family and their insurance company over burns the girl suffered in a campfire accident.
Chelsie A. Huntington and her parents, Miles and Cheryl Huntington of Jamestown Court, filed the suit in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court against Nick Rosensteel and his parents, John and Elaine Rosensteel of North Lipkey Road.
The suit said the girl was burned Aug. 14, 2005, in a wooded area off Ohltown Road in Austintown.
The suit said the girl was with Nick Rosensteel and other friends when the injuries occurred. Nick Rosensteel secured fuel to use on the fire and “negligently participated in dangerous activities” that resulted in Huntington’s injuries, the suit said.
Atty. Ilan Wexler of Youngstown, who filed the suit, said the girl was burned when nitro methane fuel, used to power model race cars, was sprayed on a burning camp fire. The vapor from the fuel caused the girl’s clothes to catch on fire, Wexler said. The girl, now 17, who attends Austintown schools, suffered severe burns to 30 percent of her body, Wexler said.
The children involved with the fire were all around 14, Wexler said. Claims previously have been resolved with other youths involved with the fire, Wexler said.
The suit said expenses associated with the burns to Chelsie’s body have exceeded $500,000.
The suit accuses the boy’s parents of failing to supervise their son.
Sentry Insurance Co. of Davenport, Iowa, was named in the suit as the company providing insurance to John and Elaine Rosensteel. The suit asks that Sentry provide payment for the girl’s medical costs.
No telephone listing is available for the Rosensteels.