Ski resort sued over trapdoor

CHARLESTON - A Parkersburg woman's personal injury lawsuit against Timberline Resort Realty was recently filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Darlene Hopkins entered her complaint Nov. 30, alleging that the Tucker County realty company from which she was renting a property left open a trapdoor.

On June 23, Hopkins says she fell through it.

"(Hopkins) exited the door of the premises rented and/or leased from Defendant and fell into an open trapdoor that had been left open by Defendant, causing Plaintiff to suffer severe and permanent injuries," the complaint says.

Hopkins blames Timberline Resort Realty, of Davis, for allowing a reasonably unsafe condition to occur.

Her medical expenses, she says, have totaled around $17,000, though she did not specify her injuries. She did, however, list claims for non-economic damages like great pain of body and mind and loss of enjoyment of life.

April Ferrebee of Charleston's Master Law Firm is representing Ferrebee.

Judge James Stucky has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-2559