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Hernando Today

Lawsuit Filed Over 11-Year-Old's Death

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: October 23, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died after a sand tunnel collapsed on top of her are suing the homeowners association and property manager.
Brittany Saavedra died April 12 while playing in a drainage retention area near her Sterling Hill home. She was trapped inside a trench that was 10 feet long and 2 feet deep after the soft sand collapsed around her, according to the lawsuit filed Oct. 10.

The lawsuit claims the Sterling Hill Homeowners Association and Franklin and Company Property Management should have known that the hole existed months prior to the incident.

It further alleges negligence on the part of the two entities because a fence was not erected around an area that was "easily and routinely accessed by children."

The lawsuit does not give the specific amount of damages sought by Saavedra's parents.

The president of Franklin and Company Property Management, Debra Perricone, declined to comment specifically on the allegations Wednesday.

She added that the legal council for the homeowner association's insurance company would be filing a response.

A message left for the Saavedra's attorney, Joseph Diaco, was not returned by press deadline Wednesday.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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