FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

The wife of Steven Holsinger, who was shot to death on July 12, 2012, has filed a wrongful death civil suit against Tyler Staker, Robert Staker, Sr., and Staker Sales and Service, Inc.

The suit says Stakers Sales and Service sold Steven and Jennifer Holsinger a used lawnmower in January of 2012, and later claimed Holsinger owed the company money on the lawnmower, but, according to Holsinger attorney Bruce MacDonald, did not create a valid security interest lien, “nor did it perfect a lien or security interest upon the piece of equipment the decedent purchased.”

As a result, the suit alleges all or part of the debt and/or parts and/or service which Stakers Sales performed on the equipment was not a valid legal claim. The suit says Tyler and Robert Staker, Sr,. came to the Hoslinger residence at 9550 Gallia Pike in Wheelersburg on July 11, “but threatened to return if they did not receive money claimed by Stakers Sales from the decedent.”

The suit says on July 12, the defendants again returned to the residence and that it was on that day that “Tyler Staker caused the wrongful death of the decedent Steven Holsinger by shooting him with a Glock Semi Automatic pistol with four rounds grouped perfectly into the decedents chest and one round to the decedents head.”

The suit charges, in addition to wrongful death, trespass on July 11, 2012; negligent or intentional infliction of emotion distress on July 11, 2012; violation of the consumer sales act and or fair debt collection practices act and award of attorney’s fees for said violations; trespass on July 12, 2012; assault on July 12, 2012; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress on July 21, 2012 and common law battery on July 12, 2012.

The suit cites what it says is the next of kins loss of consortium including, but not limited to Holsinger’s mother and father, his children, and his wife for his lost earning capacity, funeral expenses, compensatory damages, including loss of services, loss of society, loss of companionship, consortium, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance, counsel, instruction, training and education, suffered by Jennifer Holsinger and the minor children, his parents and any other next of kin; loss of any prospective inheritance to his heirs, and mental anguish.

The suit also asks for any attorney’s fees that may be awarded for violation of any statuary Ohio Consumer Sales practices act or Fair Debt Collection Act and it states the “plaintiffs are entitled to punitive damages against the defendants.”

A Scioto County grand jury recently chose not to indict Tyler Staker in Holsinger’s death.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com