Published: Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Cafaro and offshoot ask to be dropped from suit
The county, not the Cafaro Co., hired the roofing contractor, company says.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Cafaro Co. and its subsidiary, the Ohio Valley Mall Co., have asked that they be dismissed as defendants in a personal injury lawsuit filed against them by an employee of the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services and her husband.
The Cafaro Co. and Ohio Valley Mall Co. filed a written answer Tuesday to the complaint filed against them June 19 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Deborah Cheatham, a JFS training officer, and her husband, Rodney, of Wildfern Drive.
The couple sued the Cafaro entities, Sky Roofing of Boardman, three unidentified John Doe corporations, and three John or Jane Doe individuals for more than $25,000, alleging Deborah Cheatham suffered severe and permanent injuries because she inhaled noxious fumes as the roof was being repaired at her workplace.
Exposure to fumes
The suit says Cheatham lost work time and wages and incurred medical expenses because of her exposure to the fumes under inadequate ventilation as she conducted an employee training seminar June 22, 2004, at JFS offices in the Cafaro-owned Garland Plaza, 709 N. Garland Ave.
The Cafaro answer, filed by Atty. William J. Meola, says the county commissioners hired Sky to make roof repairs at JFS, such repairs being the county's obligation under its lease with the Cafaro Co. No written answer to the suit from Sky Roofing is yet on file in the court clerk's office, and Sky has refused to comment on the case.
Linette Stratford, chief of the civil division of the county prosecutor's office, which represents the commissioners, did not respond to a request for comment concerning the Cafaro's Co.'s assertions about the county. The county was not named as a defendant in this case.
The county commissioners have said they intend to move JFS from Garland Plaza to the county's recentlypurchased Oakhill Renaissance Place at 345 Oak Hill Ave. Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.
More Stories from Sat, Sep 30, 2006
- Group tours old industrial sites in the area
- Grove City, YSU rank high on test
- Judge dismisses assault charge
- Color won't change for new 'blue bridge'
- Woman convicted in murder, robbery
- 3 teenagers charged as juveniles in armed robbery of...
- Thiel receives $1.8M grant
- New park in Braceville honors Judge Swift and his late son
from vindyJOBS.com
