Published: September 11, 2007 10:19 pm      

Two lawsuits in Greenbrier court claim slip, fall injuries

Two separate slip and fall lawsuits were filed last week in Greenbrier County Circuit Court that claim residents were injured because of the negligence of two municipalities.

Mary Ralston and her husband, Robert L. Ralston, both of Ronceverte, filed suit against the city of Ronceverte over the upkeep of the city’s swimming pool. The suit states the Ralstons rented the pool for a birthday party in 2005.

The suit claims Mary Ralston “slipped and fell” while using the bathhouse and picnic areas of the pool. The suit claims the city was negligent by not keeping the area dry and clean and failed to provide handrails and “warn approaching traffic of areas that may be slippery and provide a non-skid surfaces” in the area.

The suit, filed by Lewisburg lawyer Paul Detch, said Ralston re-injured her back during the fall and has accumulated over $30,00 in medical bills.

Tamela L. Pyne, of Ronceverte, has named the city of Lewisburg as a defendant in her lawsuit and claims she was injured after attending a sporting event at a city-owned park.

Pyne said she fell and was thrown to the ground “without warning” as the result of a “looser riser step” on bleachers owned by the city.

The suit, filed by Lewisburg lawyer Steve Hunter, said Pyne sustained serious injuries from the fall, including a “severe back sprain.” The suit states Pyne has incurred nearly $4,000 in medical expenses because of the fall.

The suit said the city “failed to maintain the bleachers in a reasonably safe condition.”

— Christian Giggenbach