THIS JUST IN: Kanawha County

Aug. 21
Catheria Swafford v. Sam Vagheei, John Doe Corporation
PA – Belinda Morton; J – Zakaib
* Catheria Swafford filed a suit against Sam Vagheei, the owner of a Kanawha County apartment building. According to the suit, Swafford was visiting an apartment complex owned by Vagheei on Aug. 24, 2006. While leaving the property she fell down the steps due to Vagheei's failure to install proper steps, lights and handrails, the suit says. Swafford claims she had extreme mental and physical pain and lost quality from her life. She seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 08-C-1605

Faith Burdette v. West Virginia State University
PA – Thomas H. Peyton; J – Walker
* Faith Burdette filed a suit against West Virginia State University, claiming she was injured when she slipped on water sprayed from a drinking fountain. According to the suit, Burdette was at the school on Aug. 23, 3006. While there, she slipped on water that had been sprayed by a water fountain onto the floor of the building. Burdette claims the water was difficult to see, near the front door of the elevator and was the result of an improperly maintained drinking fountain. She seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 08-C-1606

Aug. 26
David A. Smith, et al v. 20th Century Glove Corp. et al
PA – David Chervenick; J – Visiting
* David A. Smith filed an asbestos suit against 136 companies, claiming they attributed to his lung diseases. Smith worked at several job sites in West Virginia, where he was exposed to asbestos. He now suffers from asbestosis and mesothelioma. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 08-C-1640

Aug. 27
Rhonda Brogan, etc. v. Spartan Mining Co., et al
PA – Sean McGinley; J – Stucky
* Rhonda Brogan filed a suit against a state mining company on behalf of her father, who died from injuries he sustained while working in the mine. According to the suit, David J. Neal was working in the Hughes Creek mine on Dec. 3, 2007, when he was assigned to replace the bottom rollers on a conveyor belt. According to the suit, the belt began to move while Neal was on the bottom, causing him to be pulled 50 feet, slamming into cross-support beams along the way. He then fell 40 feet onto a pile of frozen coal. Neal was airlifted to Charleston Area Medical Center, where he endured multiple surgeries, but never regained consciousness and died ten days after the accident. According to the suit, the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training cited Spartan Mining for violations inspectors concluded caused Neal's fatal fall. Brogan seeks compensatory and punitive damages for her father's estate.
Case number: 08-C-1646

Aug. 28
James Green, et al v. Kanawha County Board of Education
PA – Henry Wood, III; J – King
* James and Debra Green filed a suit on behalf of their daughter, who was allegedly raped twice at Riverside High School. According to the suit, Angel Green was a special education student at Riverside when she was allegedly enticed into a bathroom by one of the male students, then raped on two different occasions. The suit says Green is not confrontational and would not argue or resist the suggestions of adults or her peers. She suffered emotional and mental trauma among other injuries, the suit says. James and Debra Green claim their daughter has suffered from the outrageous, intentional, negligent, reckless and indifferent acts of the board. They seek compensatory and punitive damages from the Kanawha County Board of Education.
Case number: 08-C-1647