Community Corner
Parents of Son Killed by Tree Sue Landowners
Lake Oswego 11-year-old was killed by a tree in a storm. Parents say landowners should have known tree was dead.
Thomas Graham, an 11-year-old junior high school student from Lake Oswego, was killed in December 2014 when a tree fell on to the car his mother was driving along Terwilliger Boulevard in Southwest Portland.
His parents are now going to court saying the property owners where the tree was should have known the tree was dead and done something about it.
They are seeking $2.5 million in a lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Court.
Find out what's happening in Lake Oswegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Thomas's parents, Colin and Susan Graham, say that tree clearly posed a risk to anyone passing by.
The suit says that damage and decay "including substantial discoloration" should have been obvious to anyone who had examined the tree.
Find out what's happening in Lake Oswegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Grahams are seeking $500,000 for their son's pain and suffering - he was alive for some time after the crash - as well as $2 million for a variety of costs including funeral expenses and future earnings.
Photo courtesy Lake Oswego Junior High School
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.