Steve Korris News
High Court ponders tobacco antitrust trial
WASHINGTON, D. C. – All last week, U. S. Supreme Court Justices pondered a possible antitrust trial against 31 states with matching tobacco laws.
'Consumers for Justice' files bankruptcy in wrong court
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Consumers for Justice, supporters of Warren McGraw in his unsuccessful run for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 2004, made a mistake last month by declaring bankruptcy in federal court here.
Fairnont attorney Niggemyer faces suspension
CHARLESTON – Attorney Michael Niggemyer of Fairmont should stop practicing law until he complies with a disciplinary order of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, according to the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Jurors reject 'life care plan' proposals
CHARLESTON – Attorneys from Virginia tried to sell a $1.7 million "life care plan" to West Virginia jurors on behalf of accident victim Ann Alderman of Pocahontas County, but jurors did not buy the plan.
Justices seem to buy into Blue Cross trust
CHARLESTON – For 16 years no one believed that the United Mine Workers of America owned a $1 million trust at Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Virginia, but Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals appeared to believe it.
Maynard draws laughs at Court reception
CHARLESTON -- Justice Spike Maynard earned the loudest laughter at a West Virginia Bar Association reception for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals on Sept. 6, by observing that the word "respect" can signal something else.
Attorney explains confusing suit to Justices
CHARLESTON – Attorney Frank Venezia of Madison explained a confusing malpractice suit against attorney Kenneth Chittum of Bluefield to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, but he would rather not explain it to a jury.
Supreme Court to hear legal malpractice case
CHARLESTON – After attorney Kenneth Chittum of Bluefield negotiated $74,300 in insurance payouts for Samantha Sells over a motorcycle crash, Sells fired Chittum and sued him on a claim of legal malpractice.
Blue Cross, UMW case goes to Supreme Court
CHARLESTON – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of West Virginia hurt a lot of people when it went broke 16 years ago, and leaders of the United Mine Workers of America still think it hurt their union more than anyone else.
Calwell beats flood trial deadline via e-mail
Calwell WHEELING – By e-mail, attorney Stuart Calwell of Charleston barely beat a deadline to explain his theories for a trial over a flood that soaked southern West Virginia five years ago.
Thornhill must open financial records
CHARLESTON – Kanawha Circuit Judge Charles King has ordered Thornhill Superstores to open its financial records to former customers who sued the dealer over a "dollar over invoice" promotion.
Giatras serves car wreck suit
POINT PLEASANT – Attorney Troy Giatras of Charleston said he has served a suit on a defendant that at first he could not find.
Second phase of flood trial postponed
BECKLEY – Three weeks before a scheduled trial in the second phase of a giant court contest over a flood that pounded southern West Virginia five years ago, the parties postponed the trial indefinitely.
Attorney having trouble locating defendants in car wreck case
POINT PLEASANT – James Jeffrey Martin of Eskdale sued three people over an auto accident, but his attorney cannot identify one defendant and cannot find another.
Welders blame manganese fumes for injuries
POINT PLEASANT – Welders claim in a Mason County suit that their work caused neurological injuries.
Berger has strong sense of family
Berger CHARLESTON – Judges normally keep their emotions out of their work, but a petition for a name change touched the heart of Kanawha County Circuit Judge Irene Berger.
Class representative also plans to sue C&O Motors individually
CHARLESTON – Darryl Smith, who filed a class action lawsuit against C&O Motors after buying a Daewoo automobile there, plans to take the dealer to trial both as an individual and as representative of a class of Daewoo buyers.
McGraw gets Alaskan help in Zyprexa case
McGraw CHARLESTON – At the hottest time of the year, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw gained some relief from Alaska.
Nearly 2,000 employers statewide without workers' comp insurance
CHARLESTON – Almost 2,000 West Virginia employers lost workers compensation insurance by failing to pay premiums to the state's only workers compensation insurer.
Supreme Court gives Harrison judge four opinions
CHARLESTON – Anyone who has taken direction from four bosses at once knows how Harrison County Circuit Judge James Matish feels.