St. Albans man sues after he was he was crushed on the job

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a suit against a crane and equipment rental company after he was crushed during a load-bearing test on a piece of equipment.

Shannon R. Jones filed the suit Aug. 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court against All Crane and Equipment Rental Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. The suit also names Danser Inc., Lifting Gear Hire Corp., and Cajun Water Wt. Rentals LLC as defendants.

Jones was employed by All Crane and worked from the St. Albans facility. On April 7, 2008, Jones participated in a load-bearing test and de-watering process under the supervision of Danser and All Crane.

During the de-watering process, four hoses are affixed to water test bags so the water could flow out of the bags. During the April 7 test, two of the bags de-watered more rapidly, "which caused the spreader bar to tilt severely, all of which created tremendous torqueing pressure on the padeye and base plate welds," the suit says.

According to the suit, Jones was directed to go under the bags, and using a ladder, close two of the valves that were de-watering more rapidly, and open the other two, which were de-watering more slowly.

"While following his supervisor's direction to travel under the crane water test bags to return to level the aforesaid test bags, the weld associated with the padeye and base plate failed causing the spreader bar and affixed test bags to fall and crush Jones," the suit says.

According to the suit, All Crane has a duty to protect Jones, who was directed to work under about 156,000 pounds of water in the test bags, an environment that presented a significantly unsafe working condition.

Jones suffered serious bodily injuries and damages, including extreme physical pain and suffering, extreme mental anguish and distress, permanent and physical impairment, psychological impairment, and other injuries.

Amber Jones is also named as a plaintiff in the suit. She claims they were married for three weeks before the accident, and she has suffered the loss of general services, companionship and society of her husband.

Together, Shannon and Amber Jones seek compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney R. Scott Long is representing the Jones. The case has been assigned to Judge James Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1668