Man sues over construction injury

CHARLESTON – A Winfield man is suing a local construction company over an injury he suffered while doing work at Barboursville Middle School.

Christopher B. Mitchell filed a lawsuit March 18 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Kanawha Valley Construction and Erection Inc.

Mitchell says he was working at the school on March 10, 2008 placing bar joists on the roof of a building there. His adjustments of the joists required him to stand on a wall and strike the joists with a sleaver bar until the joists were properly spaced.

None of the joists were welded at the time of the adjustment, Mitchell says. When he was checking the last of the joists, he claims they started rolling and falling. Mitchell says and the joists crashed to the ground.

One of the joists landed on top of his legs and temporarily trapped him, the lawsuit says.

He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he was treated and released. He says he suffered injuries to his calves and had severe pain in his lower back and legs in addition to bruises and abrasions.

He's seeking various damages under a claim of deliberate intent.