Shoddy stairs results in lawsuit

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County woman who was injured when she fell down a flight of stairs in an apartment building has filed a suit against the building owners.

Rebecca Mae White filed a suit July 24 in Kanawha Circuit Court against William and Rosella Perry after she fell on their premises in Pratt.

According to the suit, White was invited to the property Aug. 27, 2005. While she was leaving, she claims she slipped on a wooden stairway and "fell violently down the entire length of the stairway," the suit says.

White claims she injured her right foot, right ankle and right forearm. She has suffered medical expenses and lost wages from missing work, physical and mental pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring, annoyance and convenience and loss of capacity to enjoy life.

White claims the stairs were not covered and exhibited algae growth. Also, she claims the handrail was in poor condition.

White claims William and Rosella Perry failed to maintain the stairway leading to and from the apartment, as well as failed to warn of the hazardous condition of the stairs.

Therefore, White seeks damages to fully compensate her for any and all injuries she sustained.

Attorney Johnson W. Gabhart is representing White. The case has been assigned to Judge James Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-1523