John O'Brien News
McGraw still fighting Legislature over painkiller money
McGraw CHARLESTON - State Attorney General Darrell McGraw continued to bicker with members of the Legislature Tuesday as he defended his controversial $10 million OxyContin settlement.
Plaintiffs say campaign support should disqualify Benjamin from appeal
Benjamin CHARLESTON - State Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin should not participate in a $240 million case involving his largest campaign supporter, according to the the companies hoping to preserve the verdict.
Maynard distances himself from another Massey case
Maynard CHARLESTON - State Supreme Court Chief Justice Spike Maynard has recused himself from a case involving Massey Energy, the third time he has done so since photographs surfaced of he and the company's CEO together in Monaco.
High Court hopeful tells justices to step away from controversial case
Bastress CHARLESTON - Bob Bastress, a professor at West Virginia University's law school, says the current justices at the state's Supreme Court of Appeals need to learn to stay out of the limelight.
Charleston lawyer ready for run at AG
CHARLESTON - After constant urging, Charleston attorney Dan Greear has decided not to run for a circuit judge seat and attempt instead to become the state's top lawyer.
Court to rehear Massey case
Maynard CHARLESTON - In a unanimous vote Thursday, the Justices of the state's Supreme Court of Appeals decided to reconsider their ruling in a controversial case.
Caperton was anti-Benjamin from the start
Benjamin CHARLESTON - This isn't the first time Hugh Caperton has wanted to prevent Brent Benjamin from taking a seat on the bench at the state's Supreme Court of Appeals.
Starcher on other side of recusal issues
Starcher CHARLESTON - Justice Larry Starcher of the state's Supreme Court of Appeals could offer a little advice to two of his colleagues about how to successfully navigate through a recusal controversy.
Maynard's relationship with Blankenship called into question
Maynard CHARLESTON - Chief Justice Spike Maynard had been the only member of the state Supreme Court of Appeals not to stand out in a $76 million case against Massey Energy and its CEO, Don Blankenship.
McGraw settlement again irks feds
McGraw CHARLESTON - The federal government is unhappy with another settlement engineered by state Attorney General Darrell McGraw and is planning to make the state pay up.
McGraw's campaign site dedicates page to answering critics
McGraw CHARLESTON - In preparation for the 2008 election, state Attorney General Darrell McGraw has built a campaign site that blames the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for what he perceives as misinformation about him being spread.
Starcher says controversial comments hit wrong target
Starcher CHARLESTON - State Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher apologized Thursday to the attorney to whom he recently referred as "window dressing" because of her Pakistani descent.
McGraw's case not stayed by bankruptcy, judge rules
McGraw NEW MARTINSVILLE - A federal bankruptcy judge recently ruled that state Attorney General Darrell McGraw may proceed with his case against Iams Funeral Home even though it filed for bankruptcy.
McGraw settles with debt purchaser
McGraw CHARLESTON - State Attorney General Darrell McGraw reached an agreement Tuesday with a New York-based debt purchaser to cancel the debts owed by 861 consumers.
U.S. Supreme Court won't hear appeal in Eagle Research case
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Putnam County-based company will get to keep the nearly $13 million judgment it was awarded in April 2006 after the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the appeal of the defendant.
W. Va. SC lets Massey off $50 million hook, Starcher furious
Davis CHARLESTON - More than half of the state Supreme Court justices said Wednesday it agreed with a Boone County jury award of more than $50 million against Massey Energy, but had no choice but to drop it.
Decision on McGraw appeal of tobacco ruling not made yet
McGraw CHARLESTON - The appeal of a March decision against state Attorney General Darrell McGraw made its first appearance Tuesday in the state's Supreme Court.
State SC will let jury analyze med-mal witness
Albright CHARLESTON - Just because an expert medical witness does not use the medical tools alleged to have caused harm does not mean he or she may not testify to the standard of care needed while using them, the state's Supreme Court of Appeals recently held.
Funeral owner told to stop selling preneed contracts in AG v. challenger case
McGraw NEW MARTINSVILLE - The man whose funeral home has become the subject of a courtroom battle between candidates for the state Attorney General's office has been ordered to stop selling preneed funeral contracts by a state judge.
Supreme Court rejects appeal from tobacco companies
Benjamin CHARLESTON - By a 4-1 vote, the state Supreme Court decided Wednesday not to hear the appeal of four major tobacco companies who claim a mass litigation proceeding against them needs to be updated.