Women sue Russell Insurance Services for negligence

CHARLESTON - Two women are suing Russell Insurance Services LLC for being negligent and causing them harm.

John Russell, individually and as an agent of United American Insurance Company; and Motorists Life Insurance Company, individually and as principal of John Russell were also named as defendants in the suits.

The defendants sold insurance to Jackie Lee Broyles and Mary Francis Bishop, according to two complaints filed May 13 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs claim the defendants committed errors, omissions and/or acts of negligence that caused economic and emotional harm to Broyles and Bishop.

Motorists knew or should have known of Russell and Russell Insurance's acts of wrongdoing against the plaintiffs and other policy holders and took no action against the Russell defendants to prevent them from harming the plaintiffs, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs claim Motorists is directly liable to them for all harm caused to them by Russell and Russell Insurance because of Motorists' negligence in hiring, retaining, training and/or supervising Russell and Russell Insurance.

The errors, omissions and wrongdoing of the defendants were, at times, committed in a willful, wanton and reckless manner, according to the suit.

Broyles and Bishop are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Christopher J. Heavens of Heavens Law Offices.

The cases have been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers: 13-C-932, 13-C-939