City of Huntington sued over leaky fire hydrant

HUNTINGTON - A Huntington woman is suing the City of Huntington, claiming a leaky fire hydrant did damage to a sidewalk that she tripped on.

Deanna Donahoe filed the lawsuit April 7, 2005, in Kanawha Circuit Court, and it was transferred to Cabell Circuit Court May 31.

Donahoe claims on Feb. 23, 2004, West Virginia American Water Co., also a defendant, owned and operated a fire hydrant on 8th St. in Huntington that had been leaking for several years.

"As a result of the leaking fire hydrant, the adjacent area, including sidewalk and curb, was damaged an in disrepair," the complaint says. "The damage and disrepair included… broken concrete, jagged concrete, an uneven surface and a generally deteriorated surface. The area adjacent to the fire hydrant was owned and operated by Defendant City of Huntington."

Donahoe says the defendants were responsible for maintaining the area, but she slipped, fell and suffered a severely broken arm that required surgery.

She is no longer able to work as a court reporter, she says.

She charges the defendants with negligence and premises liability. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Mark Underwood is representing the plaintiff.

Judge David Pancake has been assigned the case.

Cabell Circuit Court case number 06-C-391