Morgantown man says unknown person tried to kill him

MORGANTOWN -- A Monongalia County man claims someone assaulted and tried to kill him.

Steven Longerbeam of Morgantown claims an "Unknown John Doe" maliciously assaulted him with a deadly weapon.

Filed on March 2, the suit states that Longerbeam was walking through BB&T Bank's parking lot in the evening when a person began "maliciously and unlawfully assaulted and battered the plaintiff with a deadly weapon and with intent to main, disfigure, disable, and kill the plaintiff."

Longerbeam believes the person attempted to not only commit violent injury to him, but also wanted him dead. He is permanently disfigured because of the incident.

Filed by Brent L. Van Deyser, also of Morgantown, the suit states "John Doe is one of several persons and business entities responsible for the injuries sustained by the plaintiff."

BB&T Bank was listed in the file as being subpoenaed for a trial by jury because of the possibility of a videotape that may or may not reveal the identity of the "Unknown John Doe" who assaulted Longerbeam.

A police report was not included with evidence for the trial.

Longerbeam claims that because he was recklessly, vexatiously, wantonly, willfully, and maliciously beaten that he is owed special damages to be determined by the court, and that this award is not dependent on whether or not his assailant is found. He also claims that he has post traumatic stress symptoms from the assault such as nightmares and anxiety about leaving his house, and hopes the award will allow him to seek therapy.

He is seeking a trial by jury to award compensatory damages for lost wages and medical bills, punitive damages to deter his assailant from further misconduct, litigation expenses and attorney's fees along with his special award.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 06-C-136