Lawrence Smith News
Fired W.Va. State administrator files complaint against attorney
CHARLESTON – A former West Virginia State University administrator is asking the state Bar Association investigate allegations his attorney acted in bad faith in handling the settlement of his wrongful termination suit.
Mason doctor seeks reconsideration of dismissed malpractice suit
Vaidya POINT PLEASANT – A Mason County physician's motion to reopen his recently dismissed malpractice suit hinges on whether the judge agrees a certificate of merit is an absolute necessity for the case to proceed.
Henderson man copes with medical, legal pains
HENDERSON – Dr. Danny R. Westmoreland is not the only Mason County resident who alleges he was permanently injured by a Point Pleasant urologist.
Woman experienced other triumphs, tragedies in courtroom
CHARLESTON – In addition to filing suit against her employer, a state employee, and her husband, have been parties in several legal actions, including plaintiffs in two personal injury suits.
State employee under investigation for threatening welfare recipients
CHARLESTON – A state employee who sued her employer for failing to halt a co-worker's harassment is now under investigation for her alleged role in harassing welfare recipients receiving counseling from a Westside domestic violence clinic.
Despite legal hassles, teen receives emancipation from parents
CHARLESTON – An Alum Creek teenager received a crash course in how aggravating the civil justice system can be in her recent attempt to gain emancipation from her parents.
Hospital defends against malpractice, competition
POINT PLEASANT – A Mason County hospital finds itself involved in two civil actions, one filed against it and a local physician for malpractice and another filed by it in opposition to a competing home health agency.
Two justices voice concern for domestic violence in Richardson opinion
Davis CHARLESTON –Though the state Supreme Court was unanimous in reducing the sentence for a Charleston man convicted for the 1999 torture and kidnapping his then-girlfriend, two justices, citing the horrific level of domestic violence in the case, reluctantly concurred.
Legal system not best way to deal with domestic violence, survivors say
CHARLESTON – For many domestic violence survivors, the challenge lies in not just breaking free of an abusive relationship, but also in avoiding becoming twice victimized by the judicial system.
Mason malpractice case dismissed a day after parties agree to discuss settlement
POINT PLEASANT – After first ordering the parties to discuss a settlement, the judge hearing a malpractice suit between two Mason County physicians has ordered the case dismissed.
Dues denies allegations of fraud, drug use
CHARLESTON – A South Charleston attorney says a Dunbar woman's motion to reopen her malpractice case against him is without merit as well as her allegations he's a user of illegal drugs.
Case all too familiar to domestic violence counselor
Richardson CHARLESTON – Though not aware of the case of a Charleston man who's conviction for the 1999 torture and kidnapping of his then-girlfriend was reduced by the state Supreme Court, one person who works with victims of domestic violence says the case is all too typical of what she sees on a regular basis.
Former W.Va. State student sues school with help of alumnus
West Virginia State University is located in Institute in western Kanawha County. INSTITUTE – A former West Virginia State University student has named her alma mater as the co-defendant in a personal injury lawsuit, and she is represented by a law firm whose senior partner is a prominent alumnus of the school, and, at one time, served as its academic dean.
Suit accuses former Mason County alloy plant owner of racketeering
HUNTINGTON – Though New Haven, W. Va., might not be found on many maps of the world, a lawsuit in federal district court says the Big Bend-area hamlet factors prominently into an international racketeering conspiracy.
Starcher keeping memory of state's first black attorney alive
INSTITUTE – A state Supreme Court justice regaled the local chapter of national civil rights organization of his effort to bring more awareness of the state's first black attorney who had a hand in the organization's creation.
Disbarred attorney did little to aid clients, records show
MARTINSBURG – If a disbarred attorney did anything good during his nine years in private practice, as one state Supreme Court justice suggested, court records show little evidence of it.
Two groups ready Domestic Violence Awareness events
CHARLESTON – Those who've experienced the pain and trauma of domestic violence will have the opportunity to learn how to go from being a victim to a survivor with the help of two domestic violence awareness events this month.
Couple uses knowledge of law to live rent-free
CHARLESTON – Despite denying she influenced the state Supreme Court to reduce her son's 2001 kidnapping and torture conviction, court records show a Dunbar woman and her husband may have used their knowledge of the legal system to avoid paying rent for nearly two years.
Former clients stake claim on Dues' earnings
CHARLESTON – Two former clients of a South Charleston attorney who filed separate malpractice suits against him are staking their claim to a portion of the $100,000 he earned working as mental hygiene commissioner.
Man repeats crimes after Supreme Court reduces sentence
Richardson CHARLESTON – Two times in less than a year after he was released early from prison on a kidnapping and torture conviction, a Charleston man was re-arrested for domestic violence-related crimes.