CHARLESTON — A black Kanawha County woman is suing Lowe's Home Center, a consulting company and estimator, alleging discrimination and breach of contract involving the loss of electrical service.
Stephanie O. Smith of Charleston filed a lawsuit Nov. 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Lowe's Home Center LLC, Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. and Property Damage Appraisers Inc., alleging they withheld payment while seeking insurance terms and conditions that were not agreed upon.
According to the complaint, on May 26 a Lowe's employee, who was driving a truck, caused a collision with a telephone pole that broke and pulled the electrical wires from Smith's residence on Ferguson Avenue, resulting in property damage.
The suit says as a result of having no electricity, Smith continues to sustain additional damages. The plaintiff alleges the defendants discriminated against Smith by changing and attempting to insert additional terms and conditions of their settlement and refused to pay her claim.
Smith seeks trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages up to $75,000, attorney fees, court costs and expenses, plus all other relief the court deems just. She is represented by attorney Michael J. Del Giudice of Ciccarello, Del Giudice & Lafon in Charleston.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-c-1699