Law firm sues phone book publisher

CHARLESTON - A week after it was the other way around, a law firm is the plaintiff in an advertising lawsuit.

Sammons, Olivero and Paraschos in Huntington claims Verizon Information Services did not fulfill a request to include the firm's Internet address on its back cover ad on the Huntington SuperPages in a lawsuit filed Oct. 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

A week earlier, it was the Texas law firm Pulaski and Middleman being sued in Kanawha Circuit Court over one of its television ads. Valley Center, a nursing home, said the ad unfairly speculated that abuse and neglect was happening in it.

This time, the law firm is the one doing the suing, seeking $4,436.40 for the cost of the website it purchased to be advertised and $39,492 for the cost of the back cover ad.

Sammons, Olivero and Paraschos has been practicing in Huntington since 1994 and says it specifically asked to add the web address when it met Jan. 13 with Verizon employee Kristine Gross, a major account representative.

The ad was to run in the March edition of the SuperPages, according to the complaint.

Lavalette attorney Christopher Dean is representing the plaintiff, which also seeks compensation for loss of income, annoyance and aggravation.

The firm usually handles family law and personal injury cases.

Judge Irene Berger has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-2205