New Middletown amusement ride owners, employees, sued for negligence

YOUNGSTOWN — A Geauga County woman has sued the owners of an amusement ride and their employees, saying their negligence resulted in permanent injuries to her daughter.

Mary Pat Izar of Munson Township filed the suit in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on behalf of herself and her daughter, Siobhan Izar, against J&J Amusements and its owners, John and Joyce Richardson of New Middletown, and their employees, Derek Ray Perry and Nick Warner Jr., both of New Middletown.

Siobhan, who is a minor, incurred medical bills and lost school time after being injured while she was a passenger on the ride, known as the Sky Diver, which is owned and operated by J&J, the suit said. The incident occurred April 23 at the Geauga County Maple Festival in Chardon, according to the complaint, which did not specify the nature of the girl’s injuries.

According to the suit, the ride operators negligently failed to secure the locking mechanism before starting the Sky Diver.

The suit demands a jury trial and more than $25,000 in damages. The Richardsons could not be reached for comment.