The husband of a woman who died in a horse-breeding accident on North Whidbey last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Island County Superior Court.

Oak Harbor attorney Jacob Cohen is representing Mark Kottke and his daughter in the lawsuit. Cohen filed the complaint for damages in Island County Superior Court last month against Heather Kline, her husband and her parents.

The lawsuit requests damages for emotional trauma, emotional damages, deprivation of a wife and mother, pain and suffering.

Cheryl Ann Kottke died at an equine facility on Highway 20 on May 19, 2011. She was assisting Kline in the breeding of two horses and was kicked or trampled to death.

The lawsuit claims that Kline “negligently allowed the horses to breed by not using standard and customary procedures which would prevent the horses from moving during the breeding procedure.”