Glasgow woman blames town for water damage to home, property, Social Security reduction

CHARLESTON – A resident of the town of Glasgow has sued the municipality, claiming a burst water pipe damaged her home and personal property as well as causing a reduction in her Social Security benefits.

In her suit filed in Kanawha Circuit Court, Beverly A. Sigman says a pipe owned, operated and maintained by Glasgow burst on Jan. 10, 2004. The incident caused damage to her residence and personal property.

Sigman claims the town of Glasgow is negligent, but she says the town refused to compensate her for the damages. In addition, she claims the town refused to repair or relocate the pipe.

"While refusing these repairs or relocations for the plaintiff concerning this pipe, the defendant has made corrections or adjustments to that same pipe or for similar situations in other parts of town," she says in the suit, filed by attorney Richie Robb, who also is mayor of South Charleston.

In her suit, Sigman goes on to say that as a consequence of the incident, she suffered a reduction of her Social Security benefits.

Sigman seeks $20,000 for damages to her home, $12,000 for damage to her personal property and $45,000, which is what she calculates as her Social Security loss. She also seeks compensation for her "understandable mental stress."

Robb explained that Sigman is seeking the Social Security money because after her trailer was destroyed by the flooding, she had to set money aside to buy a new one. And during a periodic audit, Social Security saw that money she had set aside as an asset and reduced her Social Security benefits.

In addition, Sigman wants the town of Glasgow to relocate the drain pipe from her property.

Sigman also requests pre- and post-judgment interest as well as other appropriate relief. She seeks a jury trial.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Irene Berger.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 05-C-2783