CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled that a circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in a discrimination and wrongful discharge lawsuit.
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled that two former employees of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources should receive a hearing on their whistleblower claims. The appeal was from Kanawha Circuit Court’s May 16, 2014, and June 13, 2014, orders granting summary judgment in favor of the WVHDDR, Rocco Fucillo and Warren Keefer on each of Jennifer N.
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has reversed Kanawha Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed against the Charleston Sanitary Board. J.F. Allen was seeking reversal of the Kanawha Circuit Court’s order, contending that it alleged sufficient facts in its amended complaint, that if considered as true, would entitle it to relief.
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that Halliburton Energy Services did not actively participate in a lawsuit and, because of that, its motion to compel arbitration granted by Kanawha Circuit Court was affirmed.
CHARLESTON – Beth Walker's state Supreme Court campaign has begun airing its first television ad, and it focuses on the state's heroin epidemic. The ad, which began airing April 8, features Walker talking to the camera about her two-pronged plan for dealing with the problem. It is airing in every media market in the state.
CHARLESTON – Two state Supreme Court candidates utilizing the public finance option in the race have spent nearly $150,000 on television ads. Incumbent Justice Brent Benjamin and Beckley attorney Bill Wooton have combined to spend $148,870 on TV ads, according to Federal Communications Commission records.
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has issued an opinion regarding a formal request from the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office.
CHARLESTON – West Virginia’s Secretary of State is praising the state Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate public campaign finance money to two Supreme Court candidates. As Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant is a member of the State Election Commission. That’s the panel that earlier this month awarded more than $500,000 each to the campaigns of sitting Justice Brent Benjamin and former state lawmaker Bill Wooton.
CHARLESTON – The state Supreme Court says the Supreme Court campaigns of Brent Benjamin and Bill Wooton should get about $500,000 each in public campaign financing money. The orders were issued just hours after five replacement justices heard oral arguments in the matters.
CHARLESTON – The fate of about $1 million in public campaign finance money for two state Supreme Court candidates now rests with five judges. The state Supreme Court on March 23 heard oral arguments in candidate Beth Walker’s challenges to the campaigns for sitting Justice Brent Benjamin and Beckley attorney Bill Wooton. Five sitting judges – filling in for all of the justices who recused themselves from the case – heard two hours of arguments.
HUNTINGTON – West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Menis Ketchum II will give the address at Marshall University’s graduation in May. The commencement ceremony for undergraduates is set for Saturday, May 7. “I am extremely honored that our new president extended me the invitation to speak at commencement,” Ketchum said. “Candidates for graduation are not interested in speeches but want to celebrate their accomplishment.
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has affirmed a circuit court’s decision confirming the arbitration award in a lawsuit filed nearly six years ago. The petitioner, Ryan Cunningham, appeals from the November 2, 2011, order of Kanawha Circuit Court confirming an arbitration award and entering judgment on that award.
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals said the Town of Granville did not go against state code when it adopted an ordinance regarding mobile homes and house trailers. Patrick Russell and Sylvia Smith appealed a March 30, 2015, order by Monongalia Circuit Court in which the court found that the Town of Granville had authority to adopt an ordinance regulating the placement of mobile homes and house trailers, according to a March 15 opinion.
CHARLESTON – Kanawha Circuit Judge Joanna I. Tabit has been appointed to the state’s Business Court Division. She replaces 11th Judicial Circuit Judge James J. Rowe, who retired Feb. 29. Tabit said she was very honored to be chosen to fill Rowe’s seat. “I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” she said. “I am so excited about getting business cases and I’m looking forward to the work.”
CHARLESTON – All five state Supreme Court justices have recused themselves from hearing appeals regarding the public campaign finance of two candidates for the court. On March 9, Chief Justice Menis Ketchum appointed Senior Status Judge Thomas H. Keadle to serve as acting chief justice in the appeals of incumbent Justice Brent Benjamin and former state lawmaker Bill Wooton. Beth Walker, another Supreme Court candidate, argued neither of them should have received public finance money from the Sta
“[T]he public financing of elections – for judgeships or any other positions – is a boondoggle we all should deplore.” That's what we wrote six years ago in an editorial opposing Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal of a public financing pilot project for the two state Supreme Court seats to be contested in the 2012 election.
