Families filing lawsuits against crib maker
November 25, 2009
Jennifer Yang
STAFF REPORTER
At least one bereaved family will be taking legal action against B.C.-based company Stork Craft, the Star has learned.
Louisiana lawyer Richard Arsenault said he will be filing a suit against the manufacturer in U.S. federal court Wednesday. Arsenault represents David Morgan and Kira Vaughan of New Iberia, La., whose 7-month-old son was among the four deaths cited in connection with the massive crib recall. Reese David Morgan died on May 26, according to his obituary in The Daily Iberian. While the article didn't mention a cause of death, it said he died at his home in Loreauville, a village in New Iberia.
When contacted on Facebook, Vaughan referred all interviews to her lawyers. However, she wrote she was thankful for the efforts "to get awareness out about this faulty product."
According to a West Virginia TV station, a family from Fayette County will also be facing Stork Craft in court. Their son, 6-month-old Carter Michael Pack, died on Jan. 16, 2007, after getting trapped between the drop rail and mattress of his crib. The Packs' lawyers have reportedly already filed their lawsuit.
But the parents of Courtney Sue Barr have no plans to pursue legal action against Stork Craft. Ashley Johnson and Gary Barr's 7-month-old daughter died on May 1, 2007, after she was trapped by her crib's drop side.
When reached at their home in Gouverneur, N.Y., Johnson said she was glad to hear of the product recall but has no interest in taking the crib manufacturer to court. "It's not going to bring my daughter back," she said.
The fourth baby cited in connection with the product recall is a 9-month-old infant from the Bronx, New York.
Toronto Star