Former employee sues Conaway Leasing for injuries

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing Conaway Leasing after he was injured on the job.

Clarence W. Critchfield was employed by Conaway Leasing as a limousine driver, according to a complaint filed July 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

On Aug. 1, 2009, between 8 and 9 a.m., Critchfield claims he was the only person present on the premises. He claims the garage area was dimly lit and necessary for him to turn on the lights inside the garage in order to see and retrieve the vehicle he was assigned to for that day's work.

An unknown person, "but presumably another employee responsible for refuse collection from the vehicles, placed a trash bag near the doorway leading from the office to the garage portion of the defendant's premises, which, when combined with the inadequate lighting, caused the plaintiff to trip and fall onto the concrete floor of the garage," according to the suit.

Critchfield claims he suffered immediate abrasions to his arms and legs, but proceeded to complete his work that day.

Critchfield claims that within days of the incident, he began to feel pain with increasing severity in his lower back and right leg and endured worsening pain, inability to walk comfortably without assistance and ultimately required back surgery.

The defendant failed to properly maintain the business premises by creating an unsafe work place due to the negligent placement of the trash bags in an unlit area, according to the suit.

Critchfield is seeking compensatory damages. He is being represented by Walton S. Shepherd III.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-1250