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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Three blame W.Va.-American Water for property damage

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CHARLESTON – Three individuals are suing West Virginia-American Water after they claim a water leak caused damage to their property.

Sometime prior to May 2014, a leak developed in a water line owned, operated and maintained by West Virginia-American Water, which runs across the front of the property owned by Amy Jarrell, as well as the property of the neighbors, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Ronald Gibson, Verna Gibson and Jarrell claim they discovered the leak because a major slippage occurred at the front of the property.

As a result of the slippage, the home on the property is in danger of slipping over the hill, as well as damage to the yard in front of the home, surface drainage lines were exposed and disconnected and other damages were done to the property, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs claim although there was no evidence of a surface water leak, a defined flow of water was identified at the center of the slippage.

The plaintiffs reported the slippage to WVAW and other agencies and WVAM identified, and later repaired, the leak in its main, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs claim the damage to the property is so extensive that it is unsafe to bring heavy equipment onto the property to attempt remediation.

As a direct and proximate result of the leak, the property owned by Jarrell and occupied by the Gibsons has been significantly damaged, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages. They are being represented by Christopher J. Heavens of Heavens Law Firm PLLC.

The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Louis Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-1246

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