CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a suit against a telephone company after he was injured when he fell over downed telephone lines.
Demetrius D. Watson filed the suit Aug. 1 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Verizon West Virginia.
According to the suit, Watson was walking on Oliver Street in St. Albans on Aug. 4, 2006, when his feet became entangled in downed telephone lines and he fell. Watson claims the fall caused him to tear his left rotator cuff.
Watson claims Verizon should have known of the dangerous condition that was caused by the downed telephone line and should have known that it posed a serious danger to any person walking in the area at night.
The suit also claims Verizon has a duty to maintain their equipment and telephone lines in a reasonably safe condition and that on Aug. 4, 2006, they breached that duty.
Watson claims he incurred medical expenses for medical and other care and expects continuing expenses in the future. He claims he suffered physical pain and mental and emotional anguish.
Watson seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Attorney Kimberly E. Williams is representing Watson. The case has been assigned to Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1482