Woman trips going through door, blames businesses

MARTINSBURG - A Berkeley County woman is suing two businesses, claiming they are at fault for her tripping over steps and a door threshold.

Jamy Boyce filed a lawsuit Sept. 26 in Berkeley Circuit Court against Capital Development Enterprises of Maryland, Inc., and Orem, Inc., doing business as Century 21 Diamond Realty.

She alleges that on April 11, she fell on steps that had not been "properly maintained by the defendants." The steps were located on property she was leasing from Capital Development.

On July 17, she says she "fell on a door threshold which had not been properly maintained by the defendants and each of them in which incident the plaintiff was damaged."

She adds that, "The condition of the steps and threshold was in the nature of a hidden danger, trap, snare, pitfall or the like."

The complaint adds that the defendants had a duty maintain the leased property in a safe condition.

"The defendants and each of them had actual or constructive knowledge of the condition of the premises prior to the occurrences which are the subject of this complaint," it says.

As a result of the alleged incidents, Boyce claims she has suffered injuries to her body, body chemistry and psyche.

She seeks compensatory damages and is represented by Terrance Britt of Britt-Reed Law Offices in Martinsburg.

Judge David Sanders has been assigned the case.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number 06-C-704