St. Albans senior center sued after man injured

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a suit against a local senior center after he injured his spine when his chair rolled out from under him.

Carl E. Hoffman filed the suit Sept. 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court against the City of St. Albans, as the owner and operator of the Hansford Senior Center.

According to the suit, Hoffman was serving as a volunteer at the center on Sept. 18, 2006.

While at the center, Hoffman attempted to sit in a chair, which "kicked out" from underneath him causing him to fall to the ground, the suit says.

The chair has hard, rolling coasters and the floor was hard tile, the suit says.

Hoffman claims he suffered serious injuries to his spine from the fall. According to the suit, several agencies, including OSHA, warn of the risk that hard rolling coasters and hard tile floors combine to make.

Hoffman claims he suffered serious physical pain and injury, incurred medical expenses, suffered from mental anguish, nervousness and a lost capacity to participate in life's activities, suffered from a loss of enjoyment of life and suffered permanent damage to his spine.

According to the suit, Hoffman seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney Jonathan R. Mani is representing Hoffman. The case has been assigned to Judge James Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1756