LISBON — The appointment of a visiting judge has been requested in the wrongful death lawsuit filed last month against a driver, Columbiana County and the sheriff and two deputies over the 2023 death of a Hanoverton woman.

The case had been assigned to Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam, who was also the judge in the criminal case against the driver, Gerald Jackson, of Columbiana, but he recused himself due to a conflict. Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton also recused herself due to a conflict and asked that the Ohio Supreme Court appoint a visiting judge to handle the case.

Jackson, 42, of Columbiana, was sentenced a year ago to 15 years nine months for first-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault, third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, fourth-degree felonies of grand theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of receiving stolen property, fifth-degree felony vandalism and misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them for causing the death of Jennifer Hunley and injuring her son after crashing a stolen vehicle after being pursued by a sheriff’s deputy. His driver’s license was suspended for life.

Joseph Leone, administrator of Hunley’s estate, Crestview Road, Leetonia, and Robert Crozier, custodial parent of Daryn Crozier, Hunley’s minor son, Jacobsburg, filed the complaint in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court against Jackson, Columbiana County, care of county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino, Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin, Deputy Robert Vukovich who was pursuing Jackson, and Sgt. Brian Deack, his supervisor.

Prosecutors alleged that Jackson was involved in a three-county crime spree when he crashed a stolen Chevy Silverado and hit Hunley’s vehicle head-on, seriously injuring both her and her son, who was 11 at the time. Hunley, who was 47, died from her injuries on Sept. 18, 2023.

The lawsuit made claims of wanton and reckless misconduct not only by Jackson, but also by the Columbiana County employees named in the complaint as defendants. Abruzzino commented when the lawsuit was first filed that the complaint would be reviewed and the county’s liability insurance provider known as CORSA (County Risk Sharing Authority) would be contacted.

According to the lawsuit document, the pursuit began at the property where the Silverado was stolen, when Vukovich was talking with the theft victim and the truck was seen passing the property on U.S. Route 30. Vukovich started to pursue the stolen vehicle and reported the truck was traveling at high speeds of 80 and 100 mph and it was raining. He was allegedly in contact with his superiors during the pursuit, according to the complaint. He said the truck blew a stop sign at state Route 172 and was speeding when it turned onto Depot Road, continuing to speed and passing numerous vehicles across a double yellow line. The truck then turned on Winona Road, again at a high speed and eventually crashed on Teegarden Road, smashing into Hunley’s 2021 Subaru.

The lawsuit alleged that “the pursuit was conducted at speeds well in excess of the policy permitted by Columbiana County’s pursuit standards and on roadways that were narrow, twisting, wet and slippery.” The lawsuit also said the there were no reports that the Silverado was traveling at highly excessive speeds prior to the pursuit initiated by Vukovich.

The lawsuit is seeking damages for the wrongful death claim and for the pain and suffering endured by Hunley between Aug. 6, 2023 and the day she died on Sept. 18, 2023, along with damages for the injuries suffered by Daryn, her son. According to the lawsuit, Hunley’s medical bills exceeded $250,000 and her son’s medical expenses exceeded $70,000.

Andrew Yosowitz, an attorney representing the county, the sheriff and the deputies, filed an answer to the complaint recently and denied the allegations and also wrote that his clients were entitled to immunity.

mgreier@mojonews.com