Woman blames church, city for fall on sidewalk

CHARLESTON – A woman blames a church and the City of Charleston for her fall on a city sidewalk.

In a lawsuit filed in Kanawha Circuit Court, Jackie Jeffrey says Shining Light Ministries Inc. and the City of Charleston were negligent in the upkeep of a sidewalk near the Shining Light Celebration Church, located at 1800 Fifth Ave. on the city's West Side.

On Jan. 6, 2005, Jeffrey claims she fell in an area where the footing was uneven because the defendants negligently allowed the sidewalk to remain unrepaired.

As a result, she says she was permanently injured and disabled. In addition, she says she suffered great pain of body and mine as well as mental anguish and distress.

In the suit, filed by Charleston attorney Letisha R. Bika, Jeffrey claims to have suffered or will suffer past, present and future expenses for hospitalization, treatments, medication and travel expenses to and from doctors' offices as well as other various expenses.

Because the accident left her permanently injured and handicapped, Jeffrey says she has been disabled from performing her usual and normal vocations and avocations.

She also says she has suffered losses of wages and income because she had to be off work for some period of time. She says she will suffer these losses of wages and income in the future as well. Additionally, she says she has seen a reduction or diminution in her ability to work and earn money.

Jeffrey seeks a substantial sum plus interests and court costs. She requests a jury trial.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Duke Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 05-C-2900