Woman says she cut her leg on shelving at Elder-Beerman

CHARLESTON – A Putnam County woman is suing over claims she was injured on the sharp shelving of a department store.

Lenore and Charles Perkins filed a lawsuit Sept. 26 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Bon-Ton Department Stores Inc., doing business as Elder-Beerman Department Stores, and Karen Dennison, a Bon-Ton store manager, citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Lenore Perkins was at the defendants' department store at Liberty Square Shopping Plaza in Winfield on Oct. 1, 2012, when she reached to examine a pillow for purchase and cut her leg on the shelving which was defectively sharp. Perkins says she jerked away, causing her to further rip her skin and fall to the ground, sustaining injuries.

The defendants are accused of negligence in failing to maintain the premises in a safe condition for customers. Perkins' husband, Charles Perkins, is suing for loss of society.

The Perkins seek compensatory damages, interest and attorney fees. They are represented by attorneys Tony L. O'Dell and Cheryl A. Fisher of Tiano O'Dell in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1761