Man sues Martinsburg over sewer incident

MARTINSBURG - A Berkeley County man has filed a suit against the City of Martinsburg after his home was damaged when a sewer backed up into his basement.

Glenville E. Shipe filed a suit against the city Nov. 16 in Berkeley Circuit Court.

According to the suit, Shipe returned to his home Nov. 16, 2006, after a church function, to find his basement had been "inundated with human feces flowing from the downstairs toilet and sink."

The overflow was due to a backup in the sewer system, which is under the control of the city.

"As a result of the negligence of the city, Shipe, a distinguished, 82-year-old, widowed, gentleman, was forced out of his home for a period of 86 days," the suit says.

Shipe suffered extensive damage to his home, which he and his wife built in 1955.

According to the suit, Shipe suffered annoyance and inconvenience during the 86 days he was deprived of the use and comfort of his home.

Shipe, through attorney William Prentice Young, seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

The case has been assigned to Judge Gray Silver.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number 07-C-1242