The Supreme Court of Ohio issued a decision Wednesday stating it will hear an appeal of a lawsuit filed by the family of an Akron man who died while being restrained after shoplifting at the Rootstown Giant Eagle.
A Portage County jury in July 2006 awarded a $1 million verdict to the family of Paul Niskanen, 31, but also noted that since they felt he was 60 percent negligent in the incident the family would receive no money from the grocery chain.
The family appealed the decision, and earlier this year the 9th District Court of Appeals tossed out the jury's verdict. Attorneys for Giant Eagle appealed to the Supreme Court of Ohio in May, and Wednesday agreed to hear the case for review. Arguments by attorneys are expected to take place later this year with a decision possible in early 2009.
See Thursday's Record-Courier for the complete story.