By CHRIS DICKERSON CHARLESTON – To help shine a spotlight on the importance of small businesses in West Virginia and what it calls the harm these businesses can face from abusive lawsuits, West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse has kicked off of its Small Business Summer Tour. “We are very excited to kick off our third annual statewide tour to highlight how lawsuit abuse can hurt small businesses," WV CALA Executive Director Roman Stauffer said.
CHARLESTON – To help shine a spotlight on the importance of small businesses in West Virginia and what it calls the harm these businesses can face from abusive lawsuits, West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse has kicked off of its Small Business Summer Tour.
It may take a while for the people at the West Virginia Association for Justice to acknowledge the numerous benefits that Senate Bill 411 will provide to the citizens of our state, assuming that some plaintiffs’ asbestos attorneys are capable of putting the public good above personal interests.
MORGANTOWN – Beth Walker officially has entered the 2016 state Supreme Court race. She announced her candidacy Thursday in Morgantown, saying she hopes to bring fairness and a strong voice for all citizens to the state’s highest court. “My campaign will be based on my conservative vision for the role of Justice of the Supreme Court, which is to be fair and to uphold the rule of law, without legislating from the bench," Walker said in a statement.
By CHRIS DICKERSON MORGANTOWN – All indications are that Beth Walker will formally announce another run for the state Supreme Court. So far, only incumbent Justice Brent Benjamin has declared his intentions to run for the lone seat up for election in 2016. Walker fell short in her first bid for a seat on the Supreme Court in 2008.
By CHRIS DICKERSON CHARLESTON – A key piece of tort reform legislation passed and signed earlier this year now is state law. Senate Bill 411, also known as the Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act and the Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act, took effect Tuesday, 60 days after being signed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. The measure, which was sponsored by Kanawha County Republican Senator Tom Takubo, establishes legal standards and procedures for the handling of certain asbestos
CHARLESTON – The executive director for a statewide legal reform group says a recent state Supreme Court opinion will encourage criminals to file lawsuits and make a “mockery” of the judicial system.
CHARLESTON – A state group of trial lawyers again has issued a challenge to a legal reform group to take part in a series of public forums about West Virginia’s civil justice system.
CHARLESTON – Party designations might be out of future West Virginia judicial elections, but that doesn’t mean there still won’t be fighting about the issue.
CHARLESTON – In 2014, corporate special interests funneled millions into West Virginia elections to buy themselves a Legislature to would pass laws that eliminate corporate accountability and increase corporate profits at the expense of West Virginia workers, consumers and small businesses.
CHARLESTON – In January, we encouraged newly elected state Senate President Bill Cole, House Speaker Tim Armstead and Members of the West Virginia Legislature to act boldly during the legislative session to address our state’s notorious legal system.
CHARLESTON – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed Senate Bill 411, also known as the Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act and the Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act.
CHARLESTON – The first Republican-controlled session of the West Virginia Legislature in decades is in the books, and tort reforms were a key focal point.
CHARLESTON – The state Senate on Friday unanimously passed Senate Bill 411, creating the Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act and the Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act.
