Lawsuit: Bus to blame for wheelchair tipping over

HUNTINGTON - A man is suing Tri-State Transit Authority for injuries he allegedly sustained on a TTA bus in Barboursville.

On Aug. 15, 2011, Geoffrey T. Oliver, who was in a wheelchair, was at the defendant's bus stop near Barboursville Veterans Home and was assisted onto the bus, according to a complaint filed July 30 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Oliver claims when the bus rounded a left-hand turn, his wheelchair was caused to tip and fall over.

The passengers looked on at Oliver as he lay on the floor of the bus, causing great embarrassment to Oliver, according to the suit.

Oliver claims the wheelchair had flipped over because the defendant had failed to properly restrain and secure it and the collision to the floor caused him to suffer bodily injury.

The defendant has held itself out to the public as being competent to safely transport those riding in wheelchairs, and the defendant failed to do so, according to the suit.

Oliver is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Neil R. Bouchillon of Bouchillon, Crossan & Colburn LC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 13-C-532