MORGANTOWN – A woman is suing Cottrell's Country Store after she claims she was injured on the job.
Eugene Pechinki was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Frank Cottrell Jr. and Frank Cottrell are temporarily doing business as Cottrell's Country Store.
On June 20, 2013, Jessica Shrewsbury was working an evening shift at Cottrell's Country Store and Pechinki, who was a regular patron at the bar, was drinking to a degree that was apparently of concern to Frank Cottrell Jr., according to a complaint filed June 3 in Monongalia Circuit Court.
Shrewsbury claims she was instructed to get Pechinko's car keys so that he could not drive off of the premises.
Pechinko's reaction to Shrewsbury's attempt to secure his keys was to pick her up in his arms, raise her body above his shoulders and drop her to the ground behind him, according to the suit.
Shrewsbury claims Pechinko was careless, negligent, grossly negligent and reckless.
As a result of Pechinko's actions, Shrewsbury landed on her face and upper body, injuring her lips, mouth and several teeth. She also suffered cuts, abrasions and contusions to her chest and right shoulder, according to the suit.
Shrewsbury claims she first had refused to participate in removing Pechinko's keys from him, but the Cottrell defendants insisted she do so, even though they should have known having a female employee attempt to remove his keys from him would expose her to an unreasonable risk of physical harm.
When Shrewsbury attempted to open a workers' compensation claim in connection with the incident, it was denied because Frank Cottrell advised the insurance company that Shrewsbury was not an employee of Cottrell's Country Store, according to the suit.
Shrewsbury is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Jacques R. Williams of Hamstead, Williams & Shook PLLC.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 15-C-353