IN THE LEGISLATIVE CLAIMS COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

BARRY BALES

v.

WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,

DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS

(CC-18-1700)

Claimant appeared pro se.

Chad M. Cardinal, Attorney at Law, for the Respondent.

PER CURIAM:

This claim was submitted to the Legislative Claims Commission upon a Stipulation entered into by the Claimant and the Respondent wherein certain facts and circumstances of the claim were agreed to as follows:

1. On November 19, 2018, the Claimant was driving his 2015 Dodge Ram, which was hitched to his 2003 Big Tex trailer, on West Virginia Route 12 in Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe County, when the Claimant’s vehicle struck several large washed out sections of the roadway.
2. The Respondent was responsible for the maintenance of West Virginia Route 12 in Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe County, and failed to properly maintain the road on the date of this incident.
3. As a result of the incident, the Claimant’s vehicle sustained damages in the amount of $2,356.06. As a result of the same incident, the Claimant’s trailer sustained damages in the sum of $1,022.90.
4. The Claimant’s collision insurance on his 2015 Dodge Ram required a deductible of $500.00. The collision insurance on the Claimant’s 2003 Big Tex trailer also required a deductible of $500.00.
5. The amount of $1,000.00 is fair and reasonable.

The Legislative Claims Commission, having reviewed the facts of the claim, hereby finds that the Respondent was negligent in its maintenance of West Virginia Route 12 in Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe County on the date of this incident, that the negligence of the Respondent was a proximate cause of the damages sustained by the Claimant, and that the amount of damages agreed to by the parties is fair and reasonable. The Claimant may make a recovery for the damages.

It is the opinion and recommendation of the Legislative Claims Commission that the Claimant should be awarded the sum of $1,000.00 in this claim.

Award of $1,000.00.