Lawrence Smith News
Court suspends Huntington attorney for phone sex with client's wife
CHARLESTON – A Cabell County attorney has been suspended for a series of inappropriate telephone conversations he had with a former client's wife.
Mason, Wyoming Co. attorneys surrender licenses following fraud charges
CHARLESTON – Two attorneys -- one from Mason County and one from Wyoming County -- recently charged with wire fraud have been disbarred.
Ohio attorney loses W.Va. license
CHARLESTON – As he did in his home state a year ago, an Ohio attorney has lost his license to practice law in West Virginia.
CIVIL FILINGS: Wood County
Oct. 13
CIVIL FILINGS: Mason County
Nov. 28
Wheeling officer named in civil rights suit accused of sexual assault
Kotson WHEELING –A Wheeling police officer accused of improperly detaining a man last year for lawfully carrying a firearm now stands accused of sexually assaulting two women.
Former directors at Mason Co. hospital say they were fired for being gay
POINT PLEASANT – The former human resources and marketing directors for a Mason County hospital allege they were terminated from their positions by the hospital's board of trustees on account of their sexuality.
Charleston woman seeks intervention on family law judge's inaction
CHARLESTON – A Charleston woman is alleging a family law judge's foot-dragging in holding her ex-husband in contempt for not keeping current on his support payments could have serious life-or-death consequences.
CIVIL FILINGS: Mason County
Oct. 24
Fall at basketball game results in suit against Mason board, radio station
POINT PLEASANT – A Mason County woman is whistling a foul on the county board of education and a Roane County radio station for creating conditions that led to her becoming injured at a basketball game earlier this year.
Court denies former Martinsburg attorney's readmission to Bar
CHARLESTON – At least for the foreseeable future, a former Berkeley County attorney will not be returning to the practice of law.
Fayette attorney readmitted to Bar after three-month suspension
CHARLESTON – A Fayette County attorney suspended for becoming romantically involved with a client has been allowed again to practice law.
Domestic violence tops final Access to Justice hearing
Elizabeth resident Celena Roby, right, addresses the state Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission during its final hearing Nov. 15 in the Court's chambers in Charleston. (Photo by Lawrence Smith) CHARLESTON -- Increasing the availability of legal services to domestic violence victims took center stage at the final hearing of a judicial reform panel.
Fraud suit against attorney slated for January trial
Evans CHARLESTON – A judge has given the green light to the Kanawha County Board of Education's suit against a Charleston attorney to proceed to trial.
N.C. attorney accused of over-billing client
CHARLESTON – A North Carolina attorney is accused of falsely billing a former client in excess of $100,000 while he practiced law in West Virginia.
Law firm boss admonished for not catching billing errors sooner
CHARLESTON – Despite his disclosure of Richard Lancianese's billing errors, Roy Baker still was sanctioned for allowing it to happen.
Taking a stand led to firing, former TSA screener says
HUNTINGTON – The nation's homeland security chief is accused in lawsuit of allowing unprofessional behavior to fly low under radar at one of the state's largest airports.
Raid of wrong home results in suit against State Police
CHARLESTON – A Logan County man alleges he was falsely arrested by the West Virginia State Police following a mistaken raid of his home.
Mingo police brutality suit moved to federal court
CHARLESTON – Because of newly asserted claims of federal civil rights violations, a Mingo County man's lawsuit against the West Virginia State Police, Mingo County Sheriff's and Williamson Police departments has been moved to U.S. District Court.