Lawsuit: Woman lost leg because of lack of handrail at Tricky Fish

CHARLESTON - A woman is suing Bluegrass LLC after she claims was injured when she fell off the entrance ramp of its restaurant.

Bluegrass is doing business as Tricky Fish.

On April 22, Chonine Carter stopped by the defendant's premises to pick up dinner for herself and her ailing father and was walking up the entrance ramp when she fell and twisted her leg, according to a complaint filed Sept. 17 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Carter claims the ramp had no handrail and was approximately one and one-half feet tall at the peak.

The defendant was obligated to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition and failed to do so, according to the suit.

Carter claims she was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center, where she was diagnosed as suffering a left knee dislocation, which ultimately resulted in a left extremity above-knee amputation.

As a direct and proximate result of the defendant's negligence and carelessness, Carter was severely and permanently injured, according to the suit.

Carter is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Matthew C. Lindsay and Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-c-1761