CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways is suing Dominion Energy Services claiming Dominion owes more than $85,000 for the DOH fixing a sinkhole.
The DOH was alerted to the opening of a sinkhole on County Rote 20/67 on or near Arbutus Park Drive and intersecting with W.Va. 20 and 98 in Harrison County on Nov. 1, 2021, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
The DOH's employees were dispatched to the area and began to work to secure the area and redirect traffic away from the opening on the roadway within the right of way belonging to the plaintiff, according to the suit.
The plaintiff claims it expended considerable resources, including manpower and equipment, to make temporary repairs to prevent further eroding of the ground in the area so they could re-open the roadway for traffic.
While working on the road, the plaintiff discovered that a gas pipeline was installed in the area of the developing sinkhole, according to the suit.
The DOH claims the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff in the amount of $85,410.90 for its negligence in causing the sinkhole.
The DOH is seeking judgment with interest. It is represented by David A. Ford of the DOH Legal Division in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Jim Rowe.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 23-C-960
