News from 2015
Monongalia woman's estate asks court to clarify beneficiaries
CHARLESTON – The administrator of a deceased Monongalia County woman’s estate has asked a state court to determine who is her surviving beneficiary. Under the terms of Marilyn Huffman’s will, her husband Allen Huffman and son Brian Huffman were named as primary and secondary beneficiaries. However, both died before Huffman, who died last October. The third beneficiary listed in Huffman’s will was the “Cheat River Stocking Program.” But there is no entity by that name. According to research d
Grant Co. man says he was wrongfully fired after garbage truck wreck
PETERSBURG – A Grant County man says he was wrongfully terminated by a waste collection company. Logan and Tabitha Willis of Maysville filed their complaint Aug. 26 against Hott Disposal Services Inc. and John Paul Hott II in Grant Circuit Court. Hott is the owner, sole shareholder and only officer of the company, according to the complaint.
Raleigh Co. woman says dentist removed wrong teeth
BECKLEY – A Raleigh County woman says a dentist removed the wrong teeth. Brandi Goss filed her complaint Aug. 25 in Raleigh Circuit Court against Lewis D. Gilbert DDS LTD and Glenn Greene.
Va. woman says she was injected with counterfeit wrinkle filler
PINEVILLE – A Virginia woman says she was injected with a counterfeit injectable wrinkle filler that caused her injury. Kimberly G. Bourne and her husband William J. Bourne filed their complaint last month in Wyoming Circuit Court against Zen Health Wellness and Beauty Clinic of Beckley. Zen President Shashikant Bhavsar resides in Wyoming County, according to the complaint.
Beckley man sues Walmart, driver after being hit in parking lot
BECKLEY – A Raleigh County couple blames a “barely visible” crosswalk outside a Walmart for contributing to the husband being hit by a car in the parking lot. Everett and Elizabeth Agnor of Beckley filed their complaint against Suman Maharjan and Wal-Mart Stores East LP last month in Raleigh Circuit Court. Everett Agnor was exiting the Walmart Supercenter on North Eisenhower Drive in Beckley on Jan. 29, 2015, when he entered the crosswalk outside the store. “The crosswalk utilized by Mr. Agno
Preston Co. man says he nearly died using Ace Hardware equipment
KINGWOOD – A Preston County couple says Ace Hardware isn’t exactly the helpful hardware place it claims to be in its advertising after the man says he nearly died using a piece of rental equipment. Michael L. and Crystal L. Frantz of Terra Alta filed their lawsuit against Ace Hardware Corporation, which is based in Illinois, and A.D. Naylor & Co. Inc. of Oakland, Md., last month in Preston Circuit Court.
Morrisey leads AG coalition to affirm Second Amendment rights
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office is leading a coalition of 24 states in asking the U.S.
Fayette Co. residents file suit against CSX for February derailment
WAYNE – Nearly 100 Fayette County residents have filed a lawsuit against CSX over a February trail derailment that resulted in spilled oil and evacuations. The 96 people filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Wayne Circuit Court against CSX Corporation and CSX Transportation Inc. The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages from the Feb. 16 accident at Mount Carbon near the Kanawha-Fayette county line.
Cabell woman wants Parole Board to turn over documents, more
CHARLESTON – A Huntington woman currently serving time for embezzling thousands from a former employer has asked a Kanawha County judge to order the West Virginia Parole Board to turn over a recording of her parole hearing, along with other requested documents. Plaintiff Leigh Ann Zappin filed a complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court seeking the recording and documents, after she was denied parole by the board in May. Zappin argues that the board, including its chairwoman, Benita Murphy, is “delib
Toys R Us removes Kanawha house fire case to federal court
CHARLESTON – Toys R Us has removed a lawsuit claiming one of its products caused a Kanawha County house fire to federal court, and the company seeks to have the case dismissed. Toys R Us Inc. and Summer Infant Inc. filed to have the case of Travis E.
Financial Pacific Leasing sues Red-Hot Transportation for return of truck
GLENVILLE—A Washington State-based firm doing business in West Virginia is suing a Gilmer County automotive company and its principal claiming breach of contract in a 2013 monetary dispute.
Sunbelt Tractor & Equipment sues Pipeline Energy over unpaid rental fees
WEST UNION—A Texas enterprise doing business in West Virginia is suing a Doddridge County energy company in an undated contract dispute.
Cheney appearance in West Virginia offends union leader
CHARLESTON – This week, former Vice President Dick Cheney is the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, an organization that recently made a point of stating that its members employ more than half of “our state’s workers.” As president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, on behalf of the thousands of West Virginia working families I represent, I take offense.
Logan Co. woman wants state to take care of abandoned mine runoff
LOGAN – A Logan County woman wants the state to do something about the effects of abandoned mines on her property. Sue Ann Richardson filed a complaint against the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation and Acting Director Harold Ward. The suit was filed last month in Logan Circuit Court. Richardson, who lives in Chapmanville, says an artesian spring of acid mine drainage with visible levels of aluminum flows out of the ground on h
Judge tells AG, Gazette-Mail to meet about antitrust petition
WINFIELD – A Putnam County judge has told the state Attorney General’s office and the state’s largest newspaper to talk things over before coming back to his courtroom for the next hearing about a possible antitrust violation. Putnam Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers on Tuesday told attorneys from AG Patrick Morrisey’s office and lawyers representing the Charleston Gazette-Mail to meet soon to discuss Morrisey’s petition seeking an investigative subpoena looking into possible state Antitrust Act vi
Central Supply seeks payment from Preston Co. landscaping firm
KINGWOOD – Building supply company Central Supply Company of West Virginia, which provides ready-mix concrete, concrete blocks, bricks, wall systems and other related building materials, has filed suit for payment of provided materials to landscaping and irrigation company Britton Landscaping & Irrigation LLC.
Beckley man says McDonald's discriminated against him
BECKLEY – A Beckley man says a job offer from McDonald’s was revoked because of his disability. William Elwell filed his complaint last month in Raleigh Circuit Court.
Putnam Co. attorney wants car shop, State Farm to finish repairs
WINFIELD – A Putnam County attorney is suing a Winfield automotive shop and an insurance company after his vehicle wasn’t properly repaired. Richard Lindroth filed his complaint last month in Putnam Circuit Court against Greg’s Automotive and State Farm Automobile Insurance.
South Charleston woman blames Town Center mall for injuries
CHARLESTON – A South Charleston woman blames the Charleston Town Center for injuries she received while shopping at the mall. Charlene Adams filed her lawsuit last month in Kanawha Circuit Court against Charleston Town Center SPE LLC, doing business as Charleston Town Center.
We're not the ones who need to move on
Why are Americans still talking about slavery? Yes, and no. It has been a century and a half since the end of slavery in America. That's true enough. Should it have ended in our country sooner? Surely. Could it have? Maybe. Was it good that it finally ended when it did? Of course. We can all agree on that.