Attorney sues former client over unpaid bill

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County attorney is suing a former client, seeking more than $48,000 in what he says are unpaid legal bills.

Carl J. Roncaglione Jr. filed a lawsuit July 2 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Zion Inc., a Putnam County utility business.

Roncaglione claims he represented Zion in 2002, when he was the attorney for Zion's predecessor in interest, Pipemasters Inc., in a suit filed in Putnam County.

According to the lawsuit, Roncaglione provided legal services, including advice and representation, to Zion but was not paid.

The unpaid services total $48,576.11, the suit says.

In the three-count suit, Roncaglione seeks the unpaid amount in addition to charges for breaching the contract, false and fraudulent misrepresentations of material fact, and breach of other duties owed.

Roncaglione is representing himself. The case has been assigned to Judge Louis Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1296