Logan woman says she was knocked off back of bike by mall garage gate

CHARLESTON - A Logan County woman has filed a suit against the company that operates the parking garages at the Charleston Town Center after she was injured when the entrance gate at the garage knocked her off the back of a motorcycle.

Laure Grimmett filed the suit June 12 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Charleston Town Center Parking Limited Partnership and the Town Center.

According to the suit, Grimmett was a passenger on a motorcycle entering the Town Center Parking Garage on Sept. 9, 2007. Grimmett claims she was with a group of friends, including the riders in front of her, who allegedly paid the parking fee for her bike.

Grimmett and her riding partner attempted to enter the garage with the riders in front of her, when the gate started to close and hit her in the chest, knocking her off the bike. According to the suit, Grimmett landed on her left shoulder and hit her head. She sustained a broken collarbone and other injuries.

The suit says the gate operator knew the gate would close, but failed to warn Grimmett and her driver to wait for the gate to reclose and then reopen. There were no signs that warned Grimmett that she should wait for the gate to close and reopen prior to going through it.

Grimmett claims she has suffered emotional distress, medical expenses and lost wages, and will continue to suffer in the future.

In the three-count suit, Grimmett seeks compensatory and punitive damages for her injuries.

Attorney Paula L. Wilson is representing Grimmett. The case has been assigned to Judge Paul Zakaib.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1156