WINDFIELD — A man is suing the Putnam County Commission claiming it is responsible for an accident that caused him injuries.
Bethany Neff was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Larry Calhoun was traveling on W.Va. 34 near the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and W.Va. 34 in Teays Valley when Neff, who was driving a vehicle owned by the commission, rear-ended him, according to a complaint filed in Putnam Circuit Court.
Calhoun claims he had stopped at the red light, but Neff did not stop and struck him at a high rate of speed.
Neff then admitted to looking at her laptop while she was driving, which resulted in her rear-ending Calhoun, according to the suit.
Calhoun claims as a result of the collision, he suffered severe and permanent physical and mental injuries.
Neff had a duty to operate the motor vehicle in a reasonably prudent manner so as to prevent a collision with other vehicles and breached that duty, according to the suit.
Calhoun claims Neff was negligent. He claims the commission was negligent for entrusting the vehicle to Neff.
Calhoun claims he endured physical and emotional pain and suffering; annoyance and inconvenience; loss of his capacity to enjoy life and will continue to do so.
"As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's negligence, Plaintiff has incurred medical bills and other incidental expenses, and it is reasonably certain he will incur all of these into the future, for which the Defendants are liable," the complaint states.
Calhoun claims the pain he has suffered as caused him the loss of his ability to enjoy life.
Calhoun is seeking compensatory damages. He is represented by Michael J. Del Giudice of Ciccarello, Del Giudice & LaFon in Charleston.
Putnam Circuit Court case number: 23-C-29