Wheeling couple sues Northern Panhandle Pipe & Supply for injuries

WHEELING -- A Wheeling man and his wife are suing Northern Panhandle Pipe & Supply after he was injured with a steel pipe while at work.

Michael A. McCarthy was employed by the defendant as a counter salesman and claims during his employment, the company failed and neglected to provide any safety training and instructions to him, according to a complaint filed in Ohio Circuit Court.

On Jan. 19, 2009, a water line in the company's office bathroom became frozen and McCarthy was directed to repair it, according to the suit.

McCarthy claims he had to climb up a ladder to fix the pipe and while climbing up the ladder, the base of the ladder slid, causing him to fall.

As a result of the fall, McCarthy was "impaled by a piece of pipe that was vertically anchored into the ground in his groin region," according to the suit.

"In order to save his life and prevent the pipe from going entirely through his body, plaintiff was forced to hold himself up and relieve the pressure and weight of his body from further imbedding of the steel pipe for nearly an hour until emergency rescue personnel could cut the base of the pipe," the complaint states.

McCarthy and his wife, Sharon McCarthy, are seeking compensatory damages with pre-judgment interest. They are being represented by Robert P. Fitzsimmons and Clayton J. Fitzsimmons.

Ohio Circuit Court case number: 10-C-312