Father Files Lawsuit Over Disabled Daughter's Death in Fairfield Fire

The father of Katherine Rose O’Neill, who died in an early morning fire last year along with her mother, is suing the estate of his ex-wife and a Superior Court judge has ruled the case will go to trial.

The Connecticut Post reports Paul O’Neill, of Hinckley, Ohio, is suing the estate of his ex-wife Maureen Gerrity, claiming his 19-year-old disabled daughter died as a result of her negligence.

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Katherine Rose O’Neill and Gerrity, 47, died when a fire broke out around 1 a.m. at their Crane Street home on March 14, 2014. The uninhabitable house was sold to Gerrity’s estate for $200,000 over the weekend.

Daniel Tepfer reports that in the lawsuit, O’Neill claims Gerrity was a frequent smoker and was under the influence of drugs, including codeine and alcohol, at the time of the fire.

The Fairfield fire marshal determined the fire was caused by the negligent disposal of smoking material, according to Tepfer.

Read the full story at the Connecticut Post here.