Martinsburg attorney files two personal injury lawsuits

CHARLES TOWN - A Jefferson County man blames Sheetz for allowing oil to collect on a parking lot in one of two lawsuits recently filed by a Martinsburg attorney.

George Nichols says an oily substance caused his slip and fall and filed a lawsuit Oct. 13 in Jefferson Circuit Court against Sheetz, Inc., and is represented by Mark Jenkinson of Burke, Schultz, Harman and Jenkinson.

Nichols says he suffered severe and permanent injuries Oct. 15, 2004, as a result of the convenience store and gas station failing to keep its parking lot oil-free.

"Nichols was exiting his vehicle when he slipped in a gray oily substance and was injured as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of the defendant," the complaint says.

As a result of the fall, Nichols says he has paid more than $15,000 in medical expenses for which he seeks compensation, along with physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of the capacity to enjoy life, loss of income, loss of capacity to earn income and permanent injury.

The alleged incident occurred at the Sheetz in Kearneysville.

Jenkinson's other client is Robin King of Missouri. She says she was injured Dec. 9, 2004, at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown, though her complaint does not specify how.

She is suing The Federal Group, Inc., doing business as the Clarion Hotel.

"The defendant ... negligently failed to maintain their premises in a safe condition and they negligently violated their duty of reasonable care towards Robin King under all circumstances," says the complaint, filed Oct. 13.

King says she has suffered severe and permanent injuries, extreme physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of the capacity to enjoy life, permanent injury, $15,400 in medical expenses, loss of income and loss of the capacity to earn income, and seeks compensation.

Jefferson Circuit Court case numbers 06-C-344 and 06-C-345