OPINION ISSUED JUNE 30, 1992
SINDY L. BALL
VS.
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
(CC-92-98)
Claimant represents self.
James D. Terry, Attorney at Law, for respondent.
PER CURIAM:
On February 20, 1992, the claimant, a resident of St. Albans, Kanawha County, was traveling east
on Interstate 64 at approximately 7:50 a.m. on this clear and dry morning, when she drover her 1980
Oldsmobile over a metal ladder left lying in the center lane of the Interstate, near the State Capitol
exit within the City of Charleston, Kanawha County. The claimant testified that the car-twenty-five
feet in front of her swerved and avoided the ladder, but the claimant was unable to do likewise. The
impact with the ladder damaged the front shocks and front springs of the claimant's vehicle and
severed a fan belt. An alignment was subsequently required. The claimant documented repair
expenditures totaling $246.83. She testified that her automobile insurance company was notified of
the accident, but it declined to honor the claim as this risk was not covered.
The issue before the Court is whether the respondent had prior notice and a reasonable amount of
time to remove the road debris before the claimant's accident. The burden of proof is upon the
claimant to demonstrate with a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent had actual or
constructive notice of the road hazard. That burden has not been established. As the State is neither
an insurer nor a guarantor of the safety of persons traveling on its highways, the Court must deny this
claim. Adkins v. Sims, 130 W.Va. 645, 46 S.E.2d 81 (1947). For the respondent to be liable for
damage caused by road debris, it must have had actual or constructive notice of the condition and
a reasonable amount of time to take corrective action. Davis v. Dept. of Highways, 11 Ct.Cl. 150
(1977). It is the finding of this Court that the requisite notice was not available to the respondent.
In accordance with the finding of facts and conclusions of law as indicated herein above, the Court
is of the opinion to and does deny this claim.
Claim disallowed.
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