Jury selection begins Monday in a wrongful death lawsuit filed two years ago by an AlliedSignal Inc.

Sunday, June 10, 2001

Jury selection begins Monday in a wrongful death lawsuit filed two years ago by an AlliedSignal Inc. worker’s family. The trial marks the latest court action since U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott returned the suit filed by Sandra Carty, wife of the late Jeff Carty, to Lawrence County Common Pleas Court in April 2000. AlliedSignal’s attorneys had requested federal jurisdiction because of Allied’s out-of-state ownership.

Ironton attorney J.B. Collier Jr., who brought the lawsuit on behalf of the Carty family, said Monday’s trial beginning has been long-awaited.

More than a year and a half of depositions and arguments to keep the case local will culminate at 9 a.m. in Judge Richard Walton’s courtroom.

"It is going to be a compelling case," Collier said. "I anticipate we will pick a jury and probably deliver opening statements on Monday."

The trial could take about two weeks. The lawsuit alleges that Carty’s death was caused by hot tar spilling from an elevated vat onto Carty, causing burns over 75 percent of his body, during an incident at the AlliedSignal plant in 1998.

Specifically, the suit alleges that the defendants, knowing that a safety device had been removed from the top of tank 24, directed Carty to transfer hot driveway sealer tar from the tank despite the danger. It also alleges other safety violations. Defense attorneys disagree with the allegations, and previously requested the lawsuit be taken to federal court, arguing that a local co-defendant should not have been named in the suit.