This Just In: Kanawha County

March 19
William L. Seckman IV v. Snowshoe Mountain, Inc., doing business as Snowshoe Mountain Resort
PA – Jacqueline A. Hallinan; J – Walker
* Seckman, of Putnam County, filed the lawsuit against Snowshoe after he was injured while tubing. Seckman was tubing at Silver Creek on March 18, 2005, when he was injured because of negligence he claims to be the fault of the resort. He claims in the suit Snowshoe did not provide a safe place to tube. He seeks compensatory damages for his injuries.
Case number 07-C-487

March 20
Debra Wroczynski and George Morris and Hope Morris v. Best Buy Co. Inc.
PA – Bruce M. Jacobs; J – Zakaib
* Wroczynski filed a suit jointly with her parents, George and Hope Morris, against Best Buy Co. Inc., claiming the retailer failed to properly install a television she bought for her parents. The suit says the television is still not installed, more than two years after it was purchased. Wroczynski and the Morris' seek compensation, including damages for each violation of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Case number 07-C-497

Robert L. Neal v. Bradford O'Neal, Stanton H. O'Neal and Richard G. O'Neal, a protected person by his conservator, the Sheriff of Kanawha County, West Virginia and his Guardian, The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Adult Protective Services
PA - Robert Q. Sayre Jr.; J – Stucky
* Robert Neal filed the suit against the sons of Bonnie O'Neal, who was killed by her son Richard. Neal is the executor of the estate of Bonnie O'Neal. Because of a West Virginia Code, known as the slayers statute, someone who kills a person can profit from his or her death, so Richard O'Neal would not be eligible for his one-third of the estate. Neal seeks a declaration from the court directing his actions as to how to distribute Bonnie O'Neal's estate.

Brian J. Barksdale v. The West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, David W. Johnson, Lisa Day, Sue Ann George; Corrections Officers Ronald Anderson, Donald Saville, Aaron Stump and Todd Turner
PA – S. Sean Murphy; J- Stucky
* Barksdale, an inmate at Potomac Highlands Regional Jail, has filed a lawsuit against the jail and several officers after he was brutally beaten during a hearing. Barksdale claims the beating was because he is African American. After the beating Barksdale experienced breathing and vision problems and had all of his blood vessels in his eye ruptured. Barksdale seeks compensation for his injuries and punitive damages against the defendants.
Case number 07-C-501

March 21
John A. Hall and Sharon J. Hall v. Rockspring Development Inc., Foundation American Coal Holdings, NewEagle Industries, NewEagle Mining, NewEagle Development
PA – J. Kristofer Cormany; J- Zakaib
* John and Sharon Hall filed a suit after John Hall was injured in a coal mine owned by Rockspring. A rock broke from the rook of the mine and hit Hall, a roofbolter, breaking his right leg and left foot. The Halls seek compensatory damages.
Case number 07-C-504

June and James Carpenter v. Sara Lee Corp. doing business as Heiner's Bakery, Wal-Mart Stores
PA – G. Wayne Van Bibber; J – Bloom
* A couple from Putnam County filed a suit against Heiner's Bakery and Wal-Mart, seeking at least $75,000 in damages. June Carpenter was hit in the back with a bread cart while shopping in the store, and has incurred medical bills of more than $5,663. The Carpenters seek compensation for their current and future damages.
Case number 07-C-505

Appalachian Power Co. and Wheeling Power Company v. Verizon West Virginia
PA – Gina E. Mazzei-Smith; J – Bloom
* AEP filed a suit against Verizon, seeking more than $5 million in unpaid utility pole rent. The suit says Verizon violated a contract between the two companies, which had them compensating each other for utility poles they share. The suit says Verizon owes AEP for 2006, which was more than $7 million. Verizon only paid $2 million and AEP seeks the rest.
Case number 07-C-506