Family Files Suit in Parking Garage Death

Lee Coleman

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In May of 2006 Devona Jones was parking her truck in a parking garage on the second level when she struck a concrete wall panel. The two ton panel fell onto the walkway below striking Stephanie Hufnagel, killing her and her unborn child. The family is filing the suit against TIC Properties, who manages the garage, Main Street EH, LLC, one of 32 investors that jointly own the structure, and Devona Jones who struck the panel with her vehicle causing it to fall.

"The suit charges that the defendants committed a number of acts and omissions which led to the fatal accident.
Among other things, it says, they failed to inspect the garage to ensure it complied with applicable codes; failed to do regular maintenance and safety checks; failed to repair materials used to anchor the concrete wall panels; failed to provide wheel stops or energy absorbing barricades; and altered "the parking space layout to create a dangerous condition."
Jones is named for failing to "stop her slowly moving vehicle prior to contact with the defective and unreasonably dangerous parking structure."