Steve Korris News
Court says job, not employer, to blame for man's breakdown
CHARLESTON – Reggie Lee Philyaw's job wrecked his mental health but his employer didn't wreck his mental health, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has decided.
Lincoln didn't free W.Va. slaves
A statue at the state Capitol Complex is called Lincoln Walks At Midnight. It faces the Kanawha River. WHEELING - West Virginia broke away from Virginia and joined a war to end legal slavery, but legal slavery lasted longer in West Virginia than in Virginia.
Four ex-state employees sue over lost benefits
Jim Lees CHARLESTON – No injured workers have sued over benefits they lost in West Virginia's shift from public to private workers compensation, but four former state employees have sued over health benefits they claim they lost in the transition.
Elk Run error costs $5.5 million
CHARLESTON – West Virginia can keep five and a half million dollars that it would have refunded to a business if the business had not fouled up its tax appeal, the Supreme Court of Appeals ruled June 13.
Supreme Court backs help for 'pro se' plaintiffs
CHARLESTON – Douglas Cottrill could have overturned a $9,504.25 child support order with no help from an attorney, if he had known about the statute of limitations.
Doctor sets up trust to insure himself
CAMC General Hospital in downtown Charleston. CHARLESTON – For the first time a West Virginia doctor has bought freedom from malpractice insurance. It only took a million dollars.
Tax commissioner wrong to deny Moose, Court rules
CHARLESTON - West Virginia's tax commissioner abused the Martinsburg Moose Lodge by denying it a license to raise money for charity with raffles, the Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled.
Frivolous claims against government may follow Glendenning decision, justices warn
CHARLESTON – National Union Fire Insurance of Pittsburgh must compensate four former Webster County school boys who suffered sexual assault and abuse from teacher Donald Ray Glendenning Jr., the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled.
Legislative ruling aided Blankenship, Amores says
Don Blankenship HUNTINGTON – Legislators who expected to weaken Massey Energy president Don Blankenship by requiring him to put his name on political advertisements made him stronger, according to House judiciary committee chair Jon Amores.
Neither side wants Lilly case in District Court
HUNTINGTON – West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's lawsuit against drug maker Eli Lilly has landed at U. S. District Court in Huntington, but neither side wants it to stay there.
Testimony changes Daewoo claim from concealment to misrepresentation
Harry Bell CHARLESTON – Daewoo auto buyers who joined a Kanawha County class action against C&O Motors sing a different tune from the class representative.
Supreme Court denies flood trial defense petition
CHARLESTON – Two Justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, ruling as a majority after two of their colleagues dropped out, flashed a green light May 11 for a series of trials over a flood that struck southern West Virginia in 2001.
Slips slow shift to private workers' comp
Jane Cline CHARLESTON – For 40 years, Linda Tracy kept the payroll straight at the Clay County Board of Education. But when she left her post to fight cancer, the board fumbled away its workers' compensation insurance.
Thornhill Superstores fined for ignoring judge's orders
Harry Bell CHARLESTON – Kanawha Circuit Judge Charles King fined auto dealer Thornhill Superstores $7,600 on May 10 for ignoring his orders, and the penalty continues to grow.
Two justices say ruling was too soft on car dealer
Joseph Albright CHARLESTON – Two West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justices think the other three treated Paul White Chevrolet of South Charleston too gently.
Justices go three ways in three rulings
CHARLESTON – In three clashes between circuit judges and state government, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals found the state wrong in one, the judge wrong in another, and both the state and the judge wrong in the third.
Supreme Court overturns Stucky decision on woman's late car payments
CHARLESTON - When Paul White Chevrolet repossession man Donald Weekley showed up where Gloria Banks worked, she understood she would have to scrounge a car payment on the spot.
Flood victims' victory sets up second trial
BECKLEY – Flood victims won a jury verdict after a seven-week trial, but it will take another trial to identify the victims and decide who owes them what.
AG sues tobacco companies for $7 million shortfall
Darrell McGraw CHARLESTON -- State Attorney General Darrell McGraw's office has filed a lawsuit against major tobacco manufacturers to recoup about $7 million the companies aren't paying the state.
Reynolds, Lorillard fail to cough up full tobacco payments
Cigarette makers R. J. Reynolds and Lorillard withheld $755 million from their April 17 payments to states under the national tobacco settlement.