PINEVILLE – A Wyoming County man says a utility company’s attempt to terminate electrical service after he became disabled in a car wreck has caused extreme hardship, endangering his underlying chronic illness.
Robert Lee Thomas Jr. filed a lawsuit April 5 in Wyoming Circuit Court against American Electric Power, doing business as Appalachian Power Co.
According to the complaint, Thomas was disabled in a car wreck involving a logging truck and suffers from multiple sclerosis. While he awaits Social Security disability payments to begin, the suit says, he fell behind on his utility bills, owing $788. Although the West Virginia Public Service Commission worked out a deferred payment plan, American Electric Power has allegedly threatened to cut off Thomas’s service. He claims his condition would worsen without electrical service because stable temperatures are required to effectively control his disease.
Thomas seeks an injunction to prevent cancellation of service. He is self-represented.
Wyoming Circuit Court Case number 16-C-42