Raleigh man sues CAMC, parking company for damage to vehicle

CHARLESTON - A Raleigh County man has filed a suit against a local hospital and parking system, after his vehicle was hit while in the parking facilities at the hospital.

Paul E. Stover filed the suit Dec. 4 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Charleston Area Medical Center and Central Parking System.

According to the suit, Stover had parked his 2006 Toyota Rav 4 at CAMC on May 2, 2007. While it was parked, Charles Humphrey, an employee of Central Parking System, was performing valet services. Humphrey is also named as a plaintiff in the suit.

As part of his duties, Humphrey was driving a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis through the parking facility when he lost control and collided with the parked Toyota, causing structural damage to the left side of the Toyota.

According to the suit, the vehicle Humphrey was driving was equipped with controls on the steering column for a handicapped driver.

Stover claims CAMC and Central Parking failed to train Humphrey for operation of a vehicle with handicap controls on the steering column, when such training was reasonably foreseeable as being needed for safe parking services provided at a hospital.

Stover's vehicle was towed to Ken Williams Body Shop in Beckley, to be repaired, where it was kept from May 3 to July 27, 2007. The body shop was paid a total of $8,551 for repairs.

However, according to the suit, upon inspection at a dealership, several defects were found, including rough paint, dirt in the paint and damaged panels and fenders.

The vehicle was taken to a different body shop, Body Works Inc., and more work was done, totaling $4,929. According to the suit, Stover has filed a suit in Raleigh Circuit Court seeking payment from Ken Williams Body Shop for the cost of the defective repairs.

The Raleigh case was filed Nov. 16.

Stover claims Central parking and CAMC are jointly and severally liable for the negligence of Humphrey. He claims he has incurred considerable inconvenience and aggravation as the result of the accident.

Stover, through attorney William D. Stover, seeks compensatory damages as well as damages for prejudgment and post-judgment, attorney fees, inconvenience and aggravation and other general relief.

The case has been assigned to Judge Charles King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-2586