Roofer falls, sues

CHARLESTON - A Cross Lanes roofer says a customer did not provide him a safe working environment, and he suffered brain trauma as a result of the subsequent fall.

Donald Stover filed suit Sept. 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Gary Meadows over the alleged incident.

The complaint says concrete steps at Meadows' house in Charleston were unsafe when Stover showed up to replace the roof on Sept. 16, 2004.

Stover says he was standing on the steps preparing to toss a utility knife to a co-worker when he lost his balance and fell backwards as a result of the poor condition of the steps, "causing Plaintiff to suffer a severe brain trauma and various life-debilitating injuries."

Stover says Meadows owed to him a duty of reasonable care, and that he breached it by creating the dangerous condition, allowing it to develop, failing to remove it and failing to warn him of it.

As a result, Stover says he lost his business, Stover's Home Improvement, on Nov. 14.

He is suing for loss of income, loss of earning capacity, loss of the ability to perform household services, loss of the ability to enjoy life, humiliation, embarrassment and annoyance and inconvenience.

Donald's wife Hilma is seeking compensation for loss of consortium.

Robert Warner of Warner Law Offices in Charleston is representing the Stovers.

Judge Tod Kaufman has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-1940