WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON -- A Dunbar couple is suing E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Company for work injuries.

KBR, Inc.; BE&K, Inc.; BE&K Construction Company, LLC; and Debra D. Hartman were also named as defendants in the suit.

On Sept. 10, 2010, Ralph E. Taylor, who was employed by DuPont, was loading and unloading chemicals into and from railroad tank cars when one of the scaffold boards moved and caused him to fall approximately 12 feet to the ground, according to a complaint filed Sept. 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Taylor claims prior to the accident, employees of DuPont utilized a retractable stairway during the process of loading and unloading chemicals into and from railroad tank cars, however, the retractable stairway had been damaged and was removed and a temporary scaffold platform was utilized.

The accident caused Taylor to sustain serious and permanent injuries, including the breaking of several places of the bones in both of his legs, which required him to undergo numerous surgeries, according to the suit.

Taylor claims the defendants had actual knowledge of the existence of the unsafe working condition.

The defendants had a duty to warn Taylor of the dangerous conditions on the scaffolding, platforms and walkways and failed to do so, according to the suit.

Taylor, his wife Kathy L. Taylor and their unnamed minor daughter are seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by E. William Harvit and Bradley R. Oldaker.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1713