This Just In: Kanawha County

Sept. 13
Nancy Sue Payne v. Real Estate Resources, Inc., a West Virginia Corporation, General Corporation, Jane L. Cline, Insurance Commissioner of the State of West Virginia
PA – Larry L. Rowe; J – Zakaib
* Nancy Sue Payne filed a suit against Real Estate Resources, Inc. and General Corporation after she tripped over the entrance to the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Division. The defendants own the building the office is located in. Payne claims she suffered various injuries and seeks compensation.
Case number: 07-C-1934

Ray Saunders v. Champ Sports, Inc., Foot Locker Stores, Inc., and Charles Mechum and William Miller
PA – Roger D. Forman; J – Bloom
* Ray Saunders filed a suit against Champ Sports, and the store's manager, claiming he was fired because he is black. Saunders claims he was the victim of racial hostilities and prejudice and was verbally assaulted. He claims he was also accused of lying and stealing because of his race. In the six-count suit Saunders seeks reinstatement with full back pay and front pay, damaged for emotional distress and humiliation and punitive damages.
Case number: 07-C-1936

Sept. 14
Vance H. Parrish v. The City of Nitro, a West Virginia Municipality
PA – Robert V. Berthold, Jr.; J – King
* Vance H. Parrish filed a suit against the City of Nitro, claiming three police officers seriously injured him when they arrested him. Parrish claims he was tackled, pepper sprayed in the face, and his right leg was broken. Parrish seeks more than $8,700 in medical damages.
Case number: 07-C-1940

Linda Plemons Buechler v. Old Dominion Freight Lines, Inc., Lemuel B. Clayton, a North Carolina resident, and Gary Calwell, a West Virginia resident.
PA – Matthew S. Criswell; J – King
* Linda Buechler filed a suit against Old Dominion Freight Lines, Inc., claiming her supervisor sexually harassed her. Buechler claims Lemuel Clayton, the vice president of Old Dominion, touched her inappropriately, sexually solicited her, and sent her explicit jokes and cards. Buechler claims she was ultimately forced to resign. She seeks an on-going training program for Old Dominion employees regarding sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. She also seeks back pay, front pay and benefits for which she is eligible.
Case number: 07-C-1941

Chad Auxier and Rachel Auxier, co-administrators of the estate of Kari Beth Gordon, deceased, Chad Auxier and Rachel Auxier, as the next friend of Baylee Gordon and Chad Auxier and Rachel Auxier, individually v. Robert Berry, administrator of the estate of David Gordon, deceased, and the heirs of David Gordon
PA – Joseph M. Price; J – Walker
* Chad and Rachel Auxier have filed a suit against the estate of their former stepfather, David Gordon, after he shot and killed their mother before killing himself. The suit is also filed on behalf of their half-sister, Baylee Gordon. Rachel Auxier is now the guardian of Baylee Gordon. Chad and Rachel Auxier seek $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages from the estate of David Gordon.
Case number: 07-C-1942

Molly Summers v. The City of Charleston, West Virginia, A Municipal Corporation, Belkin Productions, Inc., Kelly Services
PA – C. Benjamin Salango; J – Kaufman
* Molly Summers filed a suit against the City of Charleston after she fell on a freshly-mopped floor at the Charleston Civic Center. Summers claims she injured her right knee. She seeks compensation for her medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, annoyance and inconvenience.
Case number: 07-C-1944

Sept. 17
Ernestine Ruth Plante v. Sanctuary Associates, LLC, RealCorp, Inc.
PA - Robert B. Warner; J – King
* Ernestine Plante filed a suit against the owners and managers of her apartment building after she fell and was injured on a broken drain in the driveway. She fractured her foot and leg and stuck her head on the ground. She seeks full and fair compensation.
Case number: 07-C-1962

Sept. 18
Victoria L. Beaver, Individually as mother of and as personal representative of the estate of Christopher B. Reeser v. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Elissa Taylor
PA – Roger D. Forman; J – Kaufman
* Victoria Beaver filed a suit against the Department of Health and Human Resources, claiming their negligence caused her son's death. Beaver's son, Christopher B. Reeser, was shot and killed by his grandfather. According to the suit, Reeser reported that his grandfather was abusing him, but the DHHR worker that interviewed him decided he was safe and sent him home. Beaver claims Elissa Taylor, the DHHR Protective Services worker, failed to protect Reeser, and as a result, he was killed. Beaver seeks recovery up to the limits of the West Virginia applicable liability insurance coverage.
Case number: 07-C-1979