Case Name: WALTON LEE SNYDER vs. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
Court: West Virginia Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: West Virginia
Decision Date: 1981-01-27
Citations: 13 Ct. Cl. 333
Docket Number: CC-80-230
Parties: WALTON LEE SNYDER vs. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
Judges: 
Reporter: Report of the West Virginia Court of Claims
Volume: 13
Pages: 333–333

Head Matter:
Opinion issued January 27, 1981
WALTON LEE SNYDER vs. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
(CC-80-230)
Nancy J. Aliff, Attorney at Law, for the respondent.

Opinion:
WALLACE, JUDGE:
At dusk on May 4, 1980, the claimant's son was driving the claimant's 1973 Ford automobile north of W.Va. Route 33 towards Ripley when he struck a large pothole, damaging the right front tire, rim, and fender. The claimant seeks to recover $175.00 for that damage.
The State neither insures nor guarantees the safety of motorists traveling on its highways. Adkins v. Sims, 130 W.Va. 645,46 S.E.2d 81 (1947). For the respondent to be held liable for damages caused by road defects of this type, the claimant must prove that the respondent had actual or constructive knowledge of the existence of the defect and a reasonable amount of time to take suitable corrective action. Davis v. Dept. of Highways, 11 Ct.Cl. 150 (1976). Since the claimant did not meet that burden of proof, this claim must be denied.
Claim disallowed.