Family of Woman Killed by Tree Sue Neighbors

The family of a woman killed when a tree crashed through the roof, killing her, is suing their neighbors.

Roberta Elleson was in bed in her Southeast Portland 91st Street home the morning of December 9th.

A powerful rainstorm was raging outside.

A large Douglas fir tree, some 30 inches in diameter, was pulled from the ground and crashed into the house, killing Elleson.

Her husband, Dennis, and her brother were in the house at the time. They were uninjured.

Dennis has now gone to court saying his wife did not have to die.

In a wrongful deal suit seeking $3 million, he charges that he had been afraid the tree would crash would fall into his house and had asked his neighbors earlier that year to have the tree removed.

That never happened.