CHARLESTON – Just days after a lawsuit against him was remanded to Kanawha County, a prominent attorney filed a proof of claim against his law firm in bankruptcy court for $13.5 million.
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency has finally admitted that their relentless war on coal is not about fighting climate change but rather to show "leadership." EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said so in recent testimony before the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON D.C. -- A federal act promoting transparency and access to information relating to asbestos claims recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and has now been introduced in the Senate.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is leading a coalition of states against the federal agency’s new rule, says he is considering an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.
CHARLESTON – Attorney Dave Higgins has announced he would not seek the Democratic nomination for attorney general. “I had very favorable support reactions and I’m thankful for that,” Higgins said. “But, I’ve always said it depends on who else files.” Higgins said Doug Reynolds is a very competent lawyer and is fortunate enough to self-finance his campaign.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives, including West Virginia’s entire congressional delegation, on Jan. 13 approved a measure that would effectively kill the Environmental Protection Agency’s new “Waters of the United States” rule. The House voted 253-166, passing a resolution of disapproval to nullify the rule, which extends the federal agency’s authority to all bodies of water, no matter the size or frequency. Only one Republican – U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey – voted against
CHARLESTON – A prominent Charleston attorney who has been sued by former clients for allegedly mishandling hundreds of asbestos and flood damages cases has filed for bankruptcy. Jim Humphreys said Jan. 13 that his law firm James F. Humphreys & Associates has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The firm is entering bankruptcy to “resolve all pending and potential claims against the firm in one forum and in a timely and equitable manner,” according to a statement from the firm.
?CHARLESTON – Del. Doug Reynolds has announced he will be running for attorney general in the next election. Reynolds, D-Cabell, announced on Tuesday that he had filed to campaign for the office of attorney general.
Some may dismiss it as merely a symbolic gesture, but symbolic gestures can be powerful. They're often prerequisites for subsequent, substantial change. Without those seemingly futile efforts, no genuine reform would follow.
WASHINGTON – Under threat of a presidential veto, the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 8 passed a bill that targets class action lawsuits and the asbestos injury compensation system. H.R. 1927 combines the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act and the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act, or FACT Act. After hours of debate and the rejection of several Democrat-proposed amendments, the Republican-controlled House passed the bill in a 211-188.
“This week we will join together with the House to send President Obama and the EPA a strong message: No more attacks on coal. No more attacks on domestic energy. No more attacks on the people who produce energy.”
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives, including West Virginia’s delegation, voted Tuesday to void Environmental Protection Agency regulations for new and existing power plants. The House voted 242-180 to repeal the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which puts carbon emissions limits on existing plants, and 235-188 to block the federal agency’s rules governing emissions from new plants.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin broke rank with fellow Democrats and voted Tuesday to pass a resolution to stop the Obama administration from imposing anti-coal regulations on new coal-fired power plants West Virginia’s senior senator also voted to pass a separate resolution, introduced by U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., to prevent the administration from moving forward with its proposed anti-coal regulations for existing coal-fired plants.
CHARLESTON – Attorneys accused of failing to pursue an elderly couple’s flood claims and covering it up for over 10 years are asking the state Supreme Court to prevent enforcement of an order forcing one of them to testify about the case. Attorneys representing Jim Humphreys, James F.
CHARLESTON – Two Republican West Virginia state senators are suggesting adding a toll to a stretch of interstate in the state’s eastern Panhandle to shore up lacking federal highway funds.
WASHINGTON – President Obama’s budget submission to Congress in February kicked off the debate on Capitol Hill on funding the federal government for the next fiscal year.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted a motion this week by the State of Arkansas to join a federal lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over carbon emissions.
Will the third time be a charm? Let's hope so, because this is the third time Rep. David McKinley has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives in an increasingly desperate effort to prevent the regulatory ruin of West Virginia's coal industry.
