PENSACOLA BEACH -- Family members of a 6-year-old boy killed in an elevator accident said Monday they will use part of a $5.7-million settlement to seek laws requiring state regulation of private elevators.

A lawsuit alleged that Colby Parker Dillin, of Fort Worth, Texas, was killed March 16, 1998, because one safety device was not installed and another malfunctioned in a Pensacola Beach home the family was visiting.

Family members said in a news release they planned to use the settlement, reached last week in circuit court, for charitable purposes and to promote private elevator regulation in Florida and other states.

Colby's father and sister testified in April before a Florida Senate committee in favor of a bill that would require state inspection and certification of private elevators. The legislation failed to pass.

The state already regulates elevators in public buildings.

The settlement was agreed to by three companies involved in the manufacture and installation of the elevator and homeowners Michael and Kimberly McGartland.

Task force looks at disabled voters

TALLAHASSEE -- Secretary of State Katherine Harris on Monday appointed 21 people to a commission to suggest how to make voting more accessible to persons with disabilities.

Voters with disabilities want Harris' experts to certify new equipment that is user-friendly to all, particularly touch-screen machines. The group will make proposals to the Legislature.

The Select Task Force on Voting Accessibility in Florida is led by Rep. Larry Crow of Palm Harbor, a Republican. Sen. Richard Mitchell of Jasper, a Democrat, is co-chairman.

Four other legislators also were appointed: Rep. J. Dudley Goodlette, R-Naples; Rep. Gaston Cantens, R-Miami; Sen. Mandy Dawson, D-Fort Lauderdale, and Sen. Debby Sanderson, R-Fort Lauderdale. The lone supervisor of elections on the task force is Theresa LePore of Palm Beach County.

The task force also includes Richard Belle, attorney for Family Network on Disabilities of Florida of Clearwater; Chris Wagner of New Port Richey, president of the Florida Coalition for Disability Rights; and Gloria Mills of Tampa, legislative chairwoman of the National Federation of the Blind.

Donation sends victim's body home

PENSACOLA -- An anonymous group has paid the $2,000 cost of sending home to Ohio the body of a 19-year-old pedestrian killed by a driver charged with being drunk.

James Yauger, who had been in Pensacola only six months, died Thursday at Baptist Hospital a day after being struck while walking home from work at a Denny's restaurant.

Insurance refused to pay for shipping Yauger's body home. His father, Larry Ruggles, 48, of Mansfield, Ohio, said he has been unemployed and could not afford the expense.

Back to State news

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Special Links

Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk