Milton couple sues S&S Firestone, general manager for injuries

CHARLESTON -- A Milton couple is suing S&S Firestone Inc. and its general manager after an accident that caused injuries.

James Green was employed at S&S Firestone as an off-road tire specialist, driver and general laborer, according to a complaint filed March 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Green claims he was required to operate a Ford F-550 truck that was owned by the defendants and prior to the accident, the seal on the booster of the hydraulic oil cylinder on the truck was leaking and causing it to become unsafe and permitting hydraulic oil to leak.

The leak resulted in oil leaking out into the passenger compartment of the truck, coating the floor of the truck with slippery oil and causing the driver's side floor mat to become unsafe, according to the suit.

Green claims before the accident he had repeatedly reported the unsafe condition to the defendants, including his general manager, Scott Bailey. He claims the defendants never did anything about the leak.

On July 18, 2009, Green was directed to deliver tires to Calgon Carbon Corporation, and about reentering his truck after delivering the tires, he slipped on the oil and fell to the ground, according to the suit.

Green claims he sustained a large herniation at the L5-S1 level; compression of the S1 nerve root; numbness and tingling in his extremities; extreme physical pain and suffering; extreme mental anguish and suffering; permanent physical impairment; loss of wages and benefits; loss of future earning capacity and benefits; loss of capacity to enjoy life; medical expenses; annoyance and inconvenience; and a sum certain amount of monies withdrawn from his bank account by the defendants.

Green and his wife, Bonnie Green, are seeking compensatory damages. They are being represented by Guy R. Bucci and Mark A. Barney.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-462