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4 Ct. Cl. 174

Young v. State Road Commission

West Virginia Court of Claims

Decided October 18, 1948

West Virginia Court of Claims · decided 1948-10-18

Decided 1948-10-18

MERRIMAN S. SMITH, JUDGE.

¶1Claimant Elizabeth Young, of Marietta, Ohio, was driving her automobile across the Williamstown-Marietta bridge, in Wood County, West Virginia, on June 2, 1948. The wooden floor at that time was in very bad condition and one of the spikes penetrated the left front tire and tube and damaged them beyond repair. By statute, code 17-4-88, Michie’s code 1474(15), provision is made for regular inspection of all bridges and for proper repairs to be made.

¶2It is apparent from the record before this court that the floor of the bridge was in bad condition and not safe for the traveling public, and no contributory negligence was shown on the part of the claimant, and since this claim was concurred in by the state road commissioner and approved by the attorney general, an award in the amount of sixteen dollars and seventy cents ($16.70) is hereby granted by a majority of the court to claimant Elizabeth Young.

ROBERT L. BLAND, JUDGE,

¶3dissenting.

¶4The state road commissioner concurs in the claim involved in this case. It is approved by the attorney general’s office.

¶5The facts certified to this court by the state road com*175missioner to support his concurrence in the claim are stated as follows:

“On June 2, 1948, while crossing the Wi.lliams-town-Marietta bridge, one of the spikes in the floor of the bridge pierced the left front tire of car ruining the tire and tube.”

¶6If the state were suable could the claimant successfully maintain his action against the state road commission upon the above facts? I think not.

¶7I respectfully dissent to the award made by majority members of the court.

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