Hurricane man blames dog owners for injuries

HUNTINGTON -- A Hurricane man is suing the owners of a dog that attempted to attack him and cause him to sustain injuries.

On May 2, 2011, Stephen Hash was reading water meters in Ona within the course and scope of his employment with West Virginia American Water and was approaching the meter well at the property next to property owned by Steven Cooper and Shannon Cooper when a dog appeared and charged Hash, according to a complaint filed May 21 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Hash claims the dog was growling, baring teeth and continued running toward him, so he swung his meter wand at the dog to defend himself and scare the dog away.

In an attempt to protect himself, Hash stepped back, lost his balance and fell onto his knee, sustaining injuries, according to the suit.

Hash claims the defendants' dog was not properly secured and was allowed to run at large, which violates West Virginia code.

The Coopers failed to maintain control of their dog, failed to keep in secured and failed to exercise ordinary care to keep and maintain it and were otherwise negligent, according to the suit.

Hash is seeking compensatory damages. He is being represented by Michael C. Walker.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 12-C-330