The widow of a CEO shot dead in his office by a co-worker and friend, who also died, is suing the shooter's estate.
Jody Lavoie, as executor of the estate of Steven G. Lavoie, CEO of logistics technology company, Arrowstream, filed a lawsuit July 30 in Cook County Circuit Court against Pamela Balmes, as administrator of the estate of Anthony DeFrances, alleging negligence, wrongful death and battery.
According to the complaint, on July 31, 2014, Anthony DeFrances, who according to published reports had served as the chief technology officer at Arrowstream before being demoted, was in Lavoie's office at Arrowstream, at 231 S. La Salle St., Chicago, when he allegedly shot Lavoie. Before that date, the lawsuit states, DeFrances had sought care for a mental illness and owned a gun.
DeFrances died on the same day, after shooting himself. LaVoie died Oct. 13, 2014, from the injuries he suffered from being shot.
The suit says DeFrances owned a gun without a license, lacked proper training and, while suffering from a mental illness, transported the gun into a building and office without permission, failed to register the gun, transport the gun properly, secure the safety device on the gun and prevent the gun from firing.
Jody Lavoie seeks damages in excess of the court's jurisdictional limits, plus costs.
She is represented by attorney G. Grant Dixon III of Dixon Law Office in La Grange.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L007737.