Steve Korris News
Goodwin ends final two Digitek cases
Goodwin CHARLESTON – Like dust specks, U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin blew away the last two cases in nationwide litigation over heart medicine Digitek on Nov. 3.
CSX brings Harron back to forefront in asbestos fraud case
Harron WHEELING – CSX Transportation aims to push radiologist Ray Harron of Bridgeport to center stage at a fraud and racketeering trial against Pittsburgh lawyers who swamped West Virginia courts with asbestos suits.
Sears, Logar want to revive Bresch case
Bresch CLARKSBURG – Former leaders of West Virginia University's business school seek to revive a suit claiming damage to their reputations from an investigation into a degree the school awarded to Heather Bresch, daughter of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.
Goodwin will allow expert's testimony about Digitek
CHARLESTON – U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin will admit testimony of medical expert David Bliesner that he signed a declaration full of errors when Goodwin holds a wrongful death trial against drug maker Actavis.
Judge dialed wrong number in call case, Justices say
CHARLESTON – A Pocahontas County judge improperly dismissed a case after an Ohio lawyer failed to connect to two telephone hearings, the Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled.
EPA chief went too far, federal judge says
Jackson WASHINGTON – Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson exceeded her authority by imposing new water quality rules on mountaintop coal mines, a judge has ruled.
Digitek lawyers broke rules, attorney claims
CHARLESTON – Lawyers for drug maker Actavis broke ethical rules by asking expert David Bliesner about errors in a declaration for a case in West Virginia while deposing him for a case in Oklahoma, according to lawyer Don Ernst.
Alpha, feds begin talks to mine ventilation suit
WASHINGTON – Alpha Natural Resources and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration have started negotiations to settle a suit claiming government regulators dangerously interfere with coal mine ventilation plans.
Massey subsidiaries to pay nearly $2 million to settle selenium suit
Chambers HUNTINGTON – Former Massey Energy subsidiaries will pay $1.8 million to an environmental law clinic at West Virginia University over four years to settle a suit claiming they contaminated streams with toxic element selenium.
Expert witness admits to errors in Digitek case
CHARLESTON – David Bliesner, expert witness for a wrongful death trial against drug maker Actavis, admitted under oath that he signed a declaration full of errors under oath.
Justices reverse unique insurance ruling
Davis CHARLESTON – Thomas Loudin's unique position as first party and third party in an insurance dispute doesn't cost him his rights as first party, the Supreme Court of Appeals has decided.
Judge must hear state pension case, Justices say
CHARLESTON – Kanawha Circuit Judge Tod Kaufman must hear a claim that state pension officials awarded benefits to a widow when they should have awarded them to a previous wife, the Supreme Court of Appeals says.
Lawyer says thick Digitek pill killed his client
CHARLESTON – Double thick pills of heart medicine Digitek reached the market and one of them killed Ralph McCornack, lawyers for his estate argue in federal court.
Environment groups withdraw water pollution objections
Copenhaver CHARLESTON – Subsidiaries of the former Massey Energy made so much progress against water pollution that nature groups stopped resisting their agreement with federal regulators.
Former WVU provost wants settlement review quashed
CLARKSBURG – Former West Virginia University provost Gerald Lang resists a bid by former business school dean Stephen Sears to examine a settlement Lang reached with the Board of Governors in a suit over a favoritism scandal.
Lawyers say robot phone calls are intrusive
CHARLESTON – Telephone calls from robots invade privacy when calls from humans wouldn't, class action lawyers argue at the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Justices to decide if Massey owned Chauncey waste dump
CHARLESTON – Williamson lawyers ask the Supreme Court of Appeals to hold Massey Energy responsible for a waste dump under Omar Elementary School in Chauncey, though they haven't proved Massey owned it.
Cabell sheriff wants Justices to overturn jailer verdict
CHARLESTON – Cabell County jurors improperly awarded the equivalent of gold watches to 22 former jailers who lost their jobs when the state built regional jails, Sheriff Kim Wolfe argues at the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Former WVU business dean sidesteps Bresch secrecy
Bresch CLARKSBURG – Former West Virginia University business school dean Stephen Sears overcame the university's bid to wrap secrecy around its investigation of a degree the school awarded to Heather Bresch, daughter of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.
Nurse says she saw thick Digitek pill
Goodwin CHARLESTON – No one who claimed drug maker Actavis produced double thick pills of heart medicine Digitek brought such a pill to court, but a nurse swears she saw one.