Lawrence Smith News
W. Va. residents sue bogus P.I.
MORGANTOWN – A group of eight West Virginia residents are hoping they can receive some final justice against an alleged private investigator who they claimed failed to make good on his promise to look into alleged corruption the state's judicial system.
Timing of lawsuit favorable to residents as Va. man currently in bankruptcy
CHARLESTON – Should the eight West Virginia residents who have a suit against an alleged private investigator prevail in court, they may stand a chance to collect any judgment they receive in spite of his pending bankruptcy.
Point Pleasant candidates silent on lawsuits
Signs like this one in support of councilman-at-large candidate Gary Cotton on the corner of Jackson Avenue and 26th Street are beginning to sprout up in Point Pleasant in preparation for the upcoming May 19 election. POINT PLEASANT – Candidates for the upcoming Point Pleasant city election are either mum or wanting to take a wait-and-see approach to lawsuits involving the city.
Lawsuits against Dues come to finality
CHARLESTON – Two legal actions against a Kanawha County mental hygiene commissioner have come to close with one going in his favor, and the other in a judgment against him.
Suit alleges Kanawha judicial officers defrauded refinance company
CHARLESTON – Despite one lawsuit coming to a close against them, two Kanawha County judicial officers face a new legal challenge in a suit filed against them alleging fraudulent acts in the repayment of a loan on their cars.
Point Pleasant doctor negligent in Mason couple's injuries, suit alleges
Vaidya POINT PLEASANT – A Point Pleasant urologist is again a defendant in a lawsuit. Only this time he is being sued for alleged negligence on the highway, and not in the operating room.
Male victims the subject of domestic violence conference
CHARLESTON – Properly identifying and providing services to male victims of domestic violence and sexual assault will be the focus of a day-long conference next week in Charleston.
Proper role of Mason ambulance service debated in 2000 lawsuit
In 2000, the Mason County Emergency Ambulance Service Authority seized the property belonging to the New Haven Emergency Medical Service squad. Though NHEMS won a court battle in the seizure of its equipment, it eventually lost the war to the Authority.
POINT PLEASANT – The issue of ambulance service was at the heart of lawsuit in Mason County seven years ago which saw the intervention of the state Supreme Court in the case.
Suits pending against contractor for county ambulance garage
The current home of the Mason County Emergency Ambulance Service Authority in Point Pleasant. POINT PLEASANT – Despite pending lawsuits against them for alleged shoddy work and unpaid taxes for other projects they performed in the county, a Point Pleasant contractor was the low bidder for the county's new ambulance service garage.
Inconsistencies merit appeal dismissal, doctor's lawyers say
Vaidya CHARLESTON – Perhaps to coincide with the beginning of the season, legal counsel for a Point Pleasant urologist say the reasons provided by Mason physician for why his malpractice case should be reinstated resemble that of a baseball team manager going deep into his pitching rotation to salvage the game.
WVU PRESIDENT FINALISTS: Suit not a reflection on Garrison, attorney says
Garrison CHARLESTON – Despite naming him as a co-defendant in a 2003 lawsuit, a Charleston attorney says the suit should not impue a Morgantown attorney's ability to be the next president of West Virginia University.
WVU PRESIDENT FINALISTS: Kansas State provost declines comment on free-press suit involving university
Nellis CHARLESTON -- Despite being unaware of a lawsuit involving the institution where he is provost, a candidate for president of West Virginia University said his administration would be one of openness.
WVU PRESIDENT FINALISTS: Law school under Bernstine crafted speech codes later ruled unconstitutional
Bernstine CHARLESTON -- Another West Virginia University presidential candidate's failure to communicate his views on a First Amendment-related lawsuit at the institution where he was previously dean of the law school is cause for concern, says one of his former colleagues.
Albright Jr. a no-show in own legal cases
PARKERSBURG – In addition to some of his clients, a Wood County attorney seems to have difficulty in keeping court dates in his own personal legal issues.
Albright Jr. cited for behavior before, including before dad's 2000 court run
CHARLESTON – A reprimand given to a Wood County attorney for failing to communicate with his clients or replying to complaints lodged against him is not the first time he was warned about such behavior.
Albright's son reprimanded for not communicating with clients
Justice Joseph P. Albright Sr. CHARLESTON – The state Supreme Court has formally reprimanded the son of one its members for multiple violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Persistence pays off for woman with judgment against Dues
CHARLESTON - Though one business debates its option to collect money owed it by a Kanawha County judicial officer, a Clendenin woman has been resolute in getting him to pay on the judgment awarded her.
Appeal in dismissed Mason malpractice case raises constitutional issue
Vaidya CHARLESTON - An appeal of a dismissed Mason County malpractice case may provide the state Supreme Court an opportunity to decide on not only the constitutionality of requiring pre-suit notification, but also a state law designed to curb malpractice suits.
Kanawha judicial officers miss deadline to respond to civil suit
CHARLESTON – Two Kanawha County court officers face a possible default judgment in a lawsuit filed against them in Magistrate Court.
Wounaris case presented another conflict for Starcher
Starcher CHARLESTON – Court records show the case of a twice-fired West Virginia State University administrator appeal to the state Supreme Court was the third time in as many years in which the membership of one the Justices on a statewide commission presented a potential conflict in him hearing the case.