Family of man killed by falling tree sues 8 companies

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — The family of a man killed by a falling tree in Gig Harbor is suing eight companies.

Among those companies named in the suit are Redmond-based developer Emerald Communities and timber company Pope Resources.

The family says all eight companies were involved with logging the site where the tree fell during a wind storm last year.

Jamie Fay and his 3-year-old daughter were in their car when the tree came crashing down on them.

The little girl, who was in the back seat,  was not seriously injured, but Fay died at the scene.

The suit filed Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court claims the developer was negligent for failing to properly log the area and remove the tree, which suffered from extensive root rot.

The lawsuit also claims that the tree was damaged by the use of heavy equipment clearing the land above its root system, in violation of Gig Harbor city codes.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.