Lawrence Smith News
Former Keyser councilman accuses prosecutor, now circuit judge, of pursing meritless criminal charges
CHARLESTON - A lawsuit filed in Kanawha Circuit Court accuses an eastern Panhandle circuit judge of malicious prosecution during the waning days of his time as prosecutor in the case of a former city councilman falsely accused of embezzlement
Court imposes sanctions in two disciplinary cases
CHARLESTON - In less than three weeks after hearing them, the state Supreme Court issued its rulings in two attorney discipline cases.
Schwan's wrongful termination suit moved to federal court
PARKERSBURG - An Ohio man will now have to argue his case of wrongful termination against his former employer in federal rather than state court.
Challenge to Jackson Co. ordinance moved to federal court
CHARLESTON - A Jackson County couple's fight for the economic viability of their rental property has moved from Ripley to Charleston.
Chief Justice advocates fine-tuning, not overhaul, of appellate process
Davis CHARLESTON - Though agreeing there's a perceived problem in the way the state Supreme Court handles appeals, the Court's chief justice said the solution in fixing it is not with an intermediate appellate court.
Putnam BoE pays $525K to settle two '08 suits
WINFIELD - The Putnam County Board of Education has settled two lawsuits for nearly $600,000.
THIS JUST IN: Wood County
Jan. 5
THIS JUST IN: Jackson County
Jan. 11
McGraw's office seeks more money for budget
Hughes CHARLESTON - The need for extra staff to handle appeals before a proposed intermediate appellate court notwithstanding, the state Attorney General's Office says it needs more resources for a burgeoning caseload.
Putnam attorney accused of keeping clients in the dark
WINFIELD - In failing to keep his former clients informed on the status of their personal injury case, a Putnam County attorney is now a defendant in a legal malpractice suit
Raleigh Co. woman files suit over wrongful arrest at casino
CHARLESTON - Officials from the West Virginia Lottery Commission and the State Police are named as co-defendants in civil rights lawsuit filed by a Raleigh County woman who alleges she was wrongfully arrested for a gaming violation at one of the state's newest casinos.
Dues continues to identify self as attorney despite disbarment
CHARLESTON - Seven months after his disbarment, Theodore R. "Ted" Dues Jr. continues to pass himself off as an attorney particularly with his membership on a statewide commission honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Wood couple seeks $1 million for insurance mistakes
PARKERSBURG - A Wood County couple allege their insurance company wrongfully denied a claim for benefits based on truthful information they gave to a misleading question.
Parkersburg woman faults defective treadmill for injuries
PARKERSBURG - A Wood County woman alleges her New Year's fitness resolution for 2009 was thwarted by an injury she sustained on the exercise equipment she bought to help her with that goal.
Discovery in suit against former Wood prosecutor suggests duplicity in underage drinking
PARKERSBURG - Filings in a wrongful termination suit against a former Wood County prosecutor allege while pursuing criminal charges against a Parkersburg man for furnishing alcohol to minors, she, too, either furnished alcohol to minors or instructed minors, including her son, on how to avoid being arrested for underage consumption.
Jackson couple seeks to dismiss wrongful death suit they filed
Pettit RIPLEY - Nine days after filing it, a Jackson County couple asked that the $1 million wrongful death suit they filed against the man they claim killed their son be dismissed.
Bar recommends disbarment of Nitro attorney for conversion, co-mingling of car wreck settlement
CHARLESTON - For mishandling of funds awarded to a client from a personal injury settlement, the state Bar is seeking the disbarment of a Kanawha County attorney.
Bar seeks admonishment for attorney, former state consumer advocate for sexual encounter with inmate
CHARLESTON - The state Bar is asking a Clarksburg attorney and former state official be punished for fraudulently representing to correctional officers he needed to meet with an alleged client only to have sex with her.
Bluefield attorney faces reprimand for sexually suggestive correspondence with client
CHARLESTON - The state Bar believes a Mercer County attorney acted inappropriately when he made romantic overtures to a female inmate he was helping with a divorce.
Excessive force, dog deaths listed in suit against Parkersburg officer
PARKERSBURG - A Wood County man is suing the city of Parkersburg and one of its police officers for physical and mental injuries he suffered following an arrest last year.