City prepares for wrongful-death lawsuit

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s been three years since a police officer in hot pursuit caused the death of a motorist and touched off a wrongful-death lawsuit.

The civil lawsuit filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court is against Detective Sgt. William B. Ross III and the city. Final motions are expected to be filed by next month and, barring a settlement, trial is set to begin April 28, 2009, in Judge Maureen Sweeney’s court.

The passenger side of Franklin Berry’s 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88 was struck broadside at the intersection of Williamson Avenue and Erie Street at 12:13 a.m. Oct. 20, 2005. Reports show the impact propelled the Oldsmobile into a wall in front of 109 Williamson.

Berry, 52, of East Dewey Avenue, was dead at the scene.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on vindy.com