Canadian woman blames pool filter for husband's death

A Canadian woman sued a pool and spa manufacturer, alleging wrongful death.

Megan Spidle of Nova Scotia, as the surviving spouse of Kevin Spidle and on behalf of his parents, Gordon and Audrey Spidle, filed a lawsuit Feb. 9 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Pentair Inc. and Pentair Water Pool and Spa Inc.

According to the complaint, Kevin Spidle, 37, was found dead near the pool filter at his residence in Katy on July 23, 2013, and the cause of death was accidental blunt force trauma to the head from contact with the pool filter top.

The pool was installed on the property in 2010 for a previous owner, the suit states, and Pentair had safer filter designs available subsequent to installation but did not upgrade the existing filter. Pentair had previously received reports of similar injuries, according to the suit.

Megan Spidle alleges breach of warranty, negligence, suffering, and loss of support. She seeks damages, attorney fees, and costs. Spidle is represented by attrorneys Paul Gold and Donna Aversano of Aversano & Gold in Houston, and William Adams of The Adams Law Firm in Katy.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:15-CV-00361