Lawsuit against AT&T Corp. for injuries settled

CHARLESTON - A lawsuit against AT&T Corp. in which a Dunbar man and his wife alleged he suffered injuries was settled and dismissed last year.

AT&T Communications of West Virginia Inc. and Brewer & Company of West Virginia Inc. were also named as defendants in the suit.

The Final Dismissal Order was filed March 30, 2012. In the order, plaintiffs Ricky Hicks and Kimberly Hicks and the defendants advised the court of the resolution of the Hickses claims by agreement between the parties.

On Aug. 26, 2009, Ricky Hicks was an employee of Brewer & Company and was servicing a fire alarm at the defendants’ Charleston facility when he was caused to fall by an oily and slippery substance which had been caused or permitted to be present on the floor, according to a complaint filed March 25, 2011, in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Ricky Hicks claimed the defendants had no signs or other warnings to advise him or others of the presence of the oily and slippery substance on the floor of the defendants’ business premises.

The defendants failed to ensure its floors were properly cleaned and maintained; failed to warn the public that the floor was not safe to walk across; and failed to maintain the premises free of hazards and dangerous conditions, according to the suit.

The Hickses were seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They were being represented by Brent K. Kesner, Kevin C. Harris and Eric J. Holmes of Kesner, Kesner & Bramble PLLC.

The AT&T defendants were represented by Danielle M. Waltz of Flaherty Sensabaugh & Bonasso PLLC. Brewer & Company was represented by Mary H. Sanders of Huddleston Bolen LLP.

The case was assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-495