Pa. company sues Wood Co. attorney over title insurance claims

PARKERSBURG - A Pennsylvania insurance company alleges a Wood County attorney was negligent in issuing title insurance causing them to incur claims over $50,000.

William B. Summers is named in a two-count lawsuit filed by Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company in Wood Circuit Court. In its complaint filed on March 22, Commonwealth, a Pennsylvania-charted corporation with principal offices in Glen Allen, Va., alleged Summers breached the contract between them in the manner in which he provided title insurance to clients.

In its suit, Commonwealth entered into an agreement with Summers on April 20, 2004 whereby he would be their agent for title insurance. On dates not specified in court records except "During the most recent term of the Agency Agreement, Commonwealth alleges it "sustained liability for title insurance claims on account of [Summer's] negligent conduct related to the issuance of title commitments."

Though the suit makes reference to multiple claims filed against Commonwealth, records show the only details of Summer's alleged negligence is "failing to discover that a property upon which [he] issued a title insurance commitment was subject to a life estate." Nevertheless, Commonwealth alleges the liability it incurred from Summers' actions is in excess of $56,000.

In its suit, Commonwealth seeks judgment against Summers in the amount of the claims plus court costs and attorney fees. They are represented by Kenneth E. Webb Jr. with the Charleston law firm of Bowles, Rice, McDavid, Graff and Love.

The case is assigned to Judge Jeffrey B. Reed.

Wood Circuit Court case number 10-C-117