Wellsburg, Brooke school board sued over sidewalk fall

WELLSBURG - A Brooke County woman filed a suit against the city of Wellsburg after she fell on a sidewalk in the town.

Loretta Smith filed a suit in Brooke Circuit Court against Wellsburg and the Brooke County Board of Education.

According to the lawsuit, on July 7, 2005, Smith was walking on a sidewalk on Main Street is Wellsburg when she fell, "because of a defective sidewalk." The sidewalk also abutted the Wellsburg primary school.

The suit says the city and the board of education both have a duty to maintain the sidewalks and keep them in good condition.

Smith claims as a result of the fall she suffered permanent injuries, loss of earnings, loss of enjoyment of life and will need medical treatment. She claims she has suffered more than $11,653 in medical expenses so far.

Smith is also a medical assistant and since her injury she has been unable to work, which she claims is a loss of $30,000 to date.

Therefore, Smith, through attorney Frank Cuomo, seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

The case has been assigned to Judge Ronald Wilson.

Brooke Circuit Court case number 07-C-107