Monongalia man says DOH trespassed on his land

MORGANTOWN - A Monongalia County man has filed a lawsuit claiming West Virginia Department of Highways unlawfully trespassed on his land.

Steve Solomon filed a suit Feb. 27 in Monongalia Circuit Court against the DOH. The suit says the DOH took property Solomon owns along Route 53.

"The DOH has on numerous occasions unlawfully trespassed upon this property; destroying, removing: fence, fence posts, trees, shrubs," the complaint states.

The suit says the DOH has left the property with easy access to four-wheelers and hunters, which has led to the removal of valuable metals and equipment owned by Solomon. Also, the property has been damaged and does not allow Solomon to use the property the way he intended.

"If West Virginia is 'Opened for Business,' it must be only for a few," the suit says. "In West Virginia, nothing is really like it appears on the surface, like Cheat Lake. There is always the hidden reason in the background or in the desk drawer."

Solomon, who is representing himself, seeks to have the property returned to its original condition, and $50 for every trip that must take a detour, as well as a wash for every vehicle that took the detour, as well as all costs that have been incurred.

He requests a trial by jury.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number 07-C-121