Man sues Saxon Drilling for work injuries

MORGANTOWN -- A Saxon Drilling employee is suing the company after he was injured on the job.

On May 21, Ray Messersmith was at work on a drilling rig, operating the equipment in a safe, reasonable prudent manner while exercising due care diligence when his hand was mutilated by a dangerous portion of the defendant's equipment, according to a complaint filed in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Messersmith claims the defendant failed to follow its own internal directive and failed to properly cover dangerous portions of the equipment he was operating.

Saxon's actions caused Messersmith to suffer the amputation "of portions of the digits on his hand, including the top of his middle finger through no fault of his own," according to the suit.

Messersmith claims the defendant's acts and omissions amount to deliberate intent under West Virginia statutes.

The unsafe working condition that injured Messersmith was a violation of state and/or federal safety statutes, rules or regulations or of a commonly accepted and well-known safety standard within the drilling industry, according to the suit.

Messersmith is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre-judgment interest. He is being represented by David M. Grunau.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 12-C-362