MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University Board of Governors has settled two lawsuits relating to injuries caused when boulders from a rockslide fell onto Monongahela Boulevard and the PRT track in February 2020.
Earlier this month, the case between plaintiffs Susan Cramer and Chloe Bolin and the WVUBOG was dismissed. According to an agreed order of dismissal, “all matters of controversy among the parties have been resolved.” The settlement amount was not disclosed by the Monongalia County Circuit Court. According to the Circuit Clerk’s Office, settlements are not required to be part of the record.
WVU Spokesperson April Kaull said the university does not have any comments at this time. Both plaintiffs were represented by Dino Colombo, who was not available for further comment prior to publication.
The boulders struck a vehicle and a PRT car, leaving three people hospitalized. Both plaintiffs sought compensatory damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, inconvenience, past and future medical expenses, attorney’s fees, pre-and-post-judgment interest, and other damages.
Cramer crashed into the large rock and suffered 11 injuries. These included a fractured right femur, fractured sternum, fractured lumbar spine and multiple rib fractures, resulting in more than $400,000 in medical expenses, according to the initial suit.
Bolin, a WVU student, was riding in a PRT car when it collided with a rock that landed on the PRT tracks. The initial suit states she suffered multiple pelvic fractures and other injuries with over $100,000 in medical expenses.
A $2.9 million remediation of the hillside where the rockslide occurred was completed last fall. The remediation plan stabilized a 400-foot upper sandstone seam and implemented an attenuator barrier fence of 1,600 feet at the bottom of the slope to catch any rocks that may fall down hillside according to WVUToday.
“Restoration of the road shoulder and lane is ongoing,” Kaull said. “We continue to work with the DOH to monitor the hillside’s stability.”
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