Woman claims WVU Hospitals created unsafe work environment

MORGANTOWN -- A Monongalia County woman claims West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc., her former employer, lacked a sufficient number of security officers and created an unsafe work environment.

She also claims her former boss, Charity Warner, is responsible for the unsafe environment and this unsafe environment caused her to be attacked and permanently injured on the job.

Amy Michael says her former boss and former employer were unable to keep her safe on the job, and she was injured by a criminal after being persuaded to remove his restraints.

In the suit filed Dec. 9 in Monongalia Circuit Court, Michael said she is unable to continue working because of permanent injuries sustained during the incident.

The suit alleges that while working at WVU Hospitals, Charity Warner asked her to remove restraints on a criminal, Cory Marable. Warner and Michael disagreed about the matter, but she eventually complied with Warner's request.

As Michael began to remove the restraints, Marable got free. The suit says he then brutally attacked and severely battered Michael, permanently injuring her.

Warner sustained no injuries, and Marable was recaptured shortly thereafter by WVU Hospital security, who was not present during the removal of the restraints.

The suit, filed by Frances C. Whiteman of Whiteman & Burdette PLLC, also alleges that because WVUH employed Warner, who made the decision to remove the restraints, WVU Hospitals created an unsafe working environment that made Michael unable to return to work.

Michael also claims there was not enough security present on site to prevent the attack and battery from occurring.

Michael is seeking a jury trial to determine damages. She hopes the jury will include her past and future lost wages because of the permanent injuries, compensation for her pain, anguish, and suffering, medical bills, attorney fees, and court costs.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 05-C-731