Woman says son stepped on hypodermic needle at hotel

CHARLESTON -- A St. Albans woman has sued a Dunbar hotel after her son stepped on a used hypodermic needle in one of the rooms.

April Nesselrotte filed her suit May 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Dunbar Plaza Inc., formerly doing business as Dunbar Travelodge and now doing business as Dunbar Plaza Hotel.

In her complaint, Nesselrotte says her family checked into Room 210 at the hotel on June 30, 2012. Her son, who is unnamed in the complaint, was playing in the room when he stepped on the used needle with his left foot, puncturing his skin.

She claims the defendants failed to properly inspect and clean the room prior to turning over occupancy to her and her family.

Nesselrotte says her son had to undergo extensive blood testing for a year to determine if he had contracted any diseases such as HIV, hepatitis or other potentially deadly communicable diseases.

She alleges the defendants are guilty of negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress against her and her son.

The defendants caused her "to suffer severe emotional distress as a result of her serious and substantive fear that her son ... would contract a potentially lethal disease that could potentially produce death or substantial disability requiring prolonged treatment to mitigate and/or manage that could promise imminent death," the complaint states.

Nesselrotte seeks damages for the injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, anxiety, annoyance, inconvenience, aggravation and diminution in his ability to enjoy life. She also seeks damages for her own mental anguish, emotional distress, anxiety, annoyance, inconvenience, aggravation and diminution in her ability to enjoy life. She also seeks damages for medical expenses. She seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as pre- and post-judgment interest, court costs and other relief.

She is being represented by Charleston attorney Shawn R. Romano of Romano & Associates PLLC. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-903