THIS JUST IN: Cabell County

April 30
Paul H. Cremeans and Lorena Cremeans v. Huntington Alloys Corporation
PA-Mark R. Staun; J-David M. Pancake
* Cremeans, a 34-year employee of Huntington Alloys, was working to transfer metals from one department to another at the facility in September 2007. According to the suit, the area was highly congested with equipment and metals. This caused a large bucket of scrap metal to fall on his right leg and foot. Cremeans is seeking compensation for his medical expenses.
Case number: 09-C-372

May 1
Linda Stewart, personal representative of the estate of Dixie Sowards v. St. Mary's Medical Center, Inc., Pallottine Health Services, Inc., Vanguard Financial Services, Inc., et al.
PA-Andrew L. Paternostro, Robert W. Absten; J-Jane Hustead
* Sowards went to the St. Mary's ER in March 2007 complaining of abdominal pain. A surgical consultation was made and the consulting physician declined to operate on Sowards and instead chose alternative treatments, the suit claims. Eventually, it was discovered that Sowards colon had cecal peritonitis. Later in March, Sowards had septic shock, respiratory failure and acute renai failure due to the peritonitis, the suit claims. Stewart, Sowards' daughter, claims St. Mary's failed to adequately diagnosis and treat her mother and that these problems ultimately led to her mother's death. She is suing St. Mary's and others for wrongful death and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 09-C-377

May 1
Boyd Finley, as guardian for Mary Phyllis Finley v. Russell Legg
PA-Thomas R. Goodwin; J-David M. Pancake
* Boyd Finley placed his sister, Mary, in the Green Acres Regional Center in 1999. Ms. Finley is developmentally disabled and unable to care for herself, according to the suit. In 2007, Legg, a Green Acres employee, allegedly assaulted, battered and abused Ms. Finley while he was supposed to be caring for her, the suit claims. Mr. Finley is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 09-C-378

May 4
Troy R. Blankenship v. Sabrina Blankenship, Rhonda Sullivan, Huntingtonized Federal Credit Union
PA-Roger D. Williams; J-David M. Pancake
* Troy Blankenship claims that his wife, Sabrina, forged his signature on several withdrawal applications from his W.V. Laborer's Profit Sharing Plan. He claims she withdrew $6,935 from the account in order to have cosmetic dental work done. He goes on to allege that he had planned to use the money for his child's dental work. He is seeking $8,670 is compensatory damages and punitive damages as well.
Case number: 09-C-383

May 5
Frank Betz v. Joseph Lombardi and Theresa A. Grillo
PA-Robert L. Massie; J-Jane Hustead
* Betz purchased a 2001 Lincoln LS from the two Defendants on eBay for $6,500 in December 2008. The listing for the vehicle claimed it was in like-new condition with no major flaws. However, when the vehicle arrived from New York, Betz claimed it had over 23 scratches and had sustained severe body damage to the drivers' side of the car. Betz is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 09-C-373

May 6
Debra Wise and Ronald Wise v. C.R. Bard Inc.
PA-Paul T. Farrell; J-Jane Hustead
* Mrs. Wise was implanted with a device to treat her pelvic organ prolapse. The device was manufactured and marketed by C.R. Bard. Wise claims that as a result of having the product implanted in her, she was experienced mental and physical pain and substantial physical deformity. The suit alleges that Wise will have to undergo further corrective surgeries She is seeking punitive damages.
Case number: 09-C-387

May 7
Jason D. Gardner v. Hercules International Inc.
PA-Jason J. Stemple; J-Jane Hustead
* Gardner worked for Hercules as a forge press operator. According to the suit, Gardner was never taught the proper way to clear jammed material from the machine. In July 2008, an S-cam became stuck between two dies. Gardner allegedly tried to dislodge the material without shutting down the machine. The two steel sides of the dies crashed together, crushing Gardner's left arm, according to the suit. As a result, Gardner's left hand and part of his left arm were amputated.
Case number: 09-C-397

May 8
Valerie Taylor and Terry Taylor v. Gary Spitler and Carolyn Spitler
PA-Glen Conway; J-David M. Pancake
* The Taylors agreed to purchase 80 percent of GWS Unlimited, a construction and electrical company owned by the Spitlers. The agreed purchase price for the shares was $100,000.00. According to the suit, the Spitlers agreed to not create a competing business and also to maintain relationships with existing clients. In addition, the Spitlers claimed the business had a bonding capacity of $3,000,000.00 and had no debt. The Taylors claim all those assertions turned out to be false. The Taylors are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Case number: 09-C-403