Case Name: FLOWVOUNIA TYLER vs. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
Court: West Virginia Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: West Virginia
Decision Date: 1985-01-30
Citations: 15 Ct. Cl. 255
Docket Number: CC-84-170
Parties: FLOWVOUNIA TYLER vs. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
Judges: 
Reporter: Report of the West Virginia Court of Claims
Volume: 15
Pages: 255–255

Head Matter:
Opinion issued January 30, 1985
FLOWVOUNIA TYLER vs. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
(CC-84-170)
Lucille Gore appeared for the claimant.
Nancy J. Aliff, Attorney at Law, for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
On April 6, 1984, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Lucille D. Gore was operating a vehicle titled in the name of her aunt in a westerly direction on Route 60 from Rand to Charleston, West Virginia. The vehicle, a 1980 Cadillac Eldorado, was damaged after striking a pothole in the right portion of the lane. At the hearing, the style of the claim was amended to reflect the true owner of the vehicle, Flowvounia Tyler.
According to the testimony of Lucille D. Gore, the weather on the day of the accident was cloudy and drizzly. She was driving at a speed of 25-30 mph and had just negotiated a curve when the pothole was struck. Damage to a wheel and rim, and the cost of alignment, amounted to $227.09. Mrs. Gore stated that prior to the date of the accident, she had travelled that particular road only occasionally, and had no knowledge of the pothole having been reported to the Department of Highways.
It is well established law in the State of West Virginia that the State cannot guarantee the safety of travellers upon its highways. Adkins vs. Sims, 130 W.Va. 645, 46 S.E.2d 81 (1947). There was no evidence that the respondent had ever been notified of the existence of the pothole in question. Without notice, there can be no negligence, and hence, no liability.
Claim disallowed.