Charleston man sues Verizon over charges he refused to pay

CHARLESTON - A Charleston man is alleging that he was subjected to improper telephone calls.

H. F. Salsbery filed a lawsuit Oct. 22 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia at Charleston against Verizon Wireless LLC, Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, and John Doe Collection Agency/Other Entity, citing violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 and the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.

Salsbery says he was improperly charged for services by Verizon and refused to pay. The complaint states throughout the course of the plaintiff's contract with the defendant, he complained about the improper charges.

In October or November 2012, the defendant transferred the plaintiff's outstanding account to a third-party collection agency, according to the court filling.

The collection agency began sending harassing, annoying and oppressive automated phone calls to Salsbery six days a week for three to four months, according to the complaint. By March, the plaintiff received at least 115 phone calls from the defendant, according to the complaint.

Salsbery is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages. He is being represented in the case by Wheeling attorney David A. Jividen of Jividen Law Offices PLLC.

United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Case No. 2:13-cv-26419.