Property owners blame Appalachian Power Company for property damage

HUNTINGTON - The owners of property in Barboursville are suing Appalachian Power Company after they claim it caused them property damage.

On Nov. 17, 2011, Appalachian Power Company dispatched trucks and equipment in the neighborhood of Donald L. Sammons and Raymond J. Fields and Azolia Fields, according to a complaint filed Nov. 15 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Sammons owns the property in which Raymond Fields and Azolia Fields have a land contract and have been paying to acquire the legal title of the premises.

The plaintiffs claim the defendant's personnel drove a large utility truck up and onto a driveway on Sammons' property to attempt to turn around and change its course of direction and, in doing so, without due regard to the condition of the terrain, grounds and driveway, it proceeded to create serious damage to Sammons' driveway on his property.

The defendant knew or should have known and reasonably foreseen that attempting to go onto Sammons' property, for which it had no commercial reason or purpose, would create an unreasonable risk of harm to the grounds and driveway at the property, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages in the amount of $74,500 with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Paul A. Ryker.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 13-C-872