Lawrence Smith News
Mason attorney admonished for co-mingling settlement funds
Musgrave CHARLESTON – The state Supreme Court has sanctioned a Point Pleasant attorney for mishandling the proceeds of a settlement awarded to a Mason County physician five years ago.
Charleston attorney's death puts contempt charges to rest
CHARLESTON – As a result of his sudden death, the state Supreme Court has dismissed a petition for contempt the state Bar was seeking for a Charleston attorney's failure to comply with the terms of his 2007 disciplinary action.
Staffing privilege dispute results in suit against hospital, fellow physicians
Westmoreland HUNTINGTON – A Mason County family physician is alleging that officials at Pleasant Valley Hospital conspired to harm his ability to practice medicine by revoking his staffing privileges without justification.
Tax Dept. attorney sued by former client for legal malpractice
Golden CHARLESTON – Now that she is gainfully employed, a Sissonville man seeks to dip into the salary a South Charleston attorney now receives at her state job for her alleged failure to file his bankruptcy case.
Judge used powers to squelch criticism of family law matters, complaint alleges
CHARLESTON – Alleging an unlawful practice of law complaint filed against him earlier this year was a ruse to silence his criticism of the state's family law system, a Hampshire County man has filed an ethics complaint against an eastern panhandle judge for abusing her authority.
Mason false arrest case moved to federal court
HUNTINGTON – A Mason County man who alleges the actions of two fellow residents and two sheriff's deputies led to him being falsely arrested and subsequently prosecuted will now have to prove his case in federal rather than state court.
Disbarred attorney charged with forging Kanawha judge's signature
CHARLESTON – A former Charleston attorney faces criminal charges he forged the signature of a Kanawha Circuit judge to convince a client a lawsuit she filed had been settled.
Wrongful termination suit against Wood prosecutor continues
Conley PARKERSBURG – Though she will be departing office later this month, a Wood County prosecutor will still be defending herself against allegations she terminated a former employee for political reasons.
Conley reversed, twice, in '01 FOIA denials
PARKERSBURG – During her tenure as prosecutor, Ginny Conley unsuccessfully defended herself against not one, but two civil suits in the same year challenging her denial of Freedom of Information Act requests.
Suit alleges hospital employee's recklessness caused injury to man's foot
PARKERSBURG – An Idaho man alleges that while visiting a Wood County hospital, he became a patient due to the recklessness of a hospital employee rushing to render assistance to another patient.
Settlement reached in firing of PVH physician's assistant
POINT PLEASANT – A settlement has been reached in a wrongful termination suit filed by a former physician's assistant who alleged the wife of the doctor for whom she was working ordered her fired on suspicions they were having an affair.
State ready to offer Pinecrest TB victims $500K, record show
CHARLESTON – Records show the state of West Virginia is prepared to pay $500,000 to nearly a dozen people who allege they contracted tuberculosis while either visiting or working at a state-run hospital in Beckley.
$375K paid to parents of children injured by former Mason teacher
POINT PLEASANT – The Mason County Board of Education has paid $375,000 to the parents of two Bend-area elementary school students who allege they suffered injuries from improper discipline by their teacher.
Disbarred attorneys had multiple complaints, records show
CHARLESTON – Should they seek to again practice law in starting in 2013, John E. Lutz and Anthony Tatano will still have to answer to collectively a dozen clients why they failed in their legal duties.
Former WVU-P professor says he was underpaid $26,000
CHARLESTON – A former West Virginia University professor is asking the court to award him over $25,000 he alleges he was underpaid during his nearly seven years of employment.
Court suspends one, disbars two attorneys
CHARLESTON – The licenses of three attorneys have either been suspended or annulled by recent order of the state Supreme Court.
Tissue samples misdiagnosed leading to cancer fight, suit alleges
PARKERSBURG – A Pleasants County woman has filed suit against a Wood County hospital and a New York physician, alleging they failed to timely diagnosis tissue samples from her scalp as cancerous.
Suit claims gas drilling contaminated drinking water
RIPLEY – A Jackson County family alleges the actions of four energy companies have not only damaged their property, but also their health.
Fayette man, Pa. investigator contradict Workman statements
Workman CHARLESTON – Both a Fayette County man and a Pennsylvania private investigator take issue with comments a state Supreme Court justice-elect made not only about her role in a wrongful death suit, but also a Putnam County attorney representing the man in an future lawsuit.
Committee: Judge made baseless complaints
CHARLESTON -- A state Bar committee has vindicated two men falsely accused of illegally practicing law by an eastern Panhandle judge.