The family of a 6-year-old New Jersey girl who died after a badminton racket came apart and pierced her skull during a Maine vacation is suing the Massachusetts-based maker of the sports equipment.

"This case represents a parent's worst nightmare," attorney Charles P. Hehmeyer, who is representing the family, said.

"The Morgan family was enjoying an idyllic summer vacation here in Maine when they lost Lucy due to what we allege was a dangerous and defective piece of sports equipment." The wrongful death and product-liability lawsuit alleges Franklin Sports sold a defective and unreasonably dangerous badminton racket that failed during normal use and turned its metal shaft into a projectile.