News from August 2006
Lawsuits filed over Sago disaster
McCloy CHARLESTON - The lone survivor of January's deadly incident at Sago Mine filed one of three lawsuits Wednesday against six defendant companies, alleging their negligence was to blame for what happened at the Upshur County mine.
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.
Mine safety suit dismissed
WASHINGTON - On the same day three lawsuits were filed in Kanawha Circuit Court over the Sago Mine disaster, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., threw out a lawsuit filed by coal miners demanding that the government do more to ensure their safety.
YOUR LEGAL WRITES: Beauty pageants, law firm style
Dear Prospective Law Firm,
Standalone P1 art package for 8/28 issue: Coal trophy
Dave Fetty, a retired glass blower at Fenton, looks over his work on the Governor's Trophy, which will be presented to the winner of the Sept. 2 West Virginia-Marshall football game. The trophy is nearly 2 feet tall, weighs about 60 pounds and is made of crystal glass and coal. The hand-blown crystal football -- complete with etched laces and stripes -- holds 5 gallons of pulverized coal.
Woman sues sanitary board
CHARLESTON - A Charleston woman says a defect in the City of Charleston's sewer line caused raw sewage to be backed into her house during a rainstorm in a recently filed lawsuit.
Two asbestos cases filed
CHARLESTON - Attorney James Barber filed two asbestos cases last week in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Self-inflicted dog bite doesn't fly with jurors
CHARLESTON - "Dog bites man" sounded simple enough to David Mincer.
SupCo Calendar for 8/28 issue
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia schedule for the week of Sept. 4-8
Jesus of Bridgeport missing; lawsuit to continue
Last week, someone stole this portrait of Jesus that adorned the halls of Bridgeport High School for nearly 40 years. CLARKSBURG - The Harrison County Board of Education needs to find a defense lawyer. And it needs to find Jesus.
Dept. of Corrections not liable for fall
Bob Martin POINT PLEASANT - A Mason County jury recently denied the $1.3 million request of a former nursing director at Lakin Correctional Facility who says she fell when she tried to sit on a chair.
Griffith sworn in as family court judge
Griffith PRINCETON -– Mary Ellen Griffith was sworn in Monday as West Virginia's newest family court judge.
Starcher's mouth everyone's problem
Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship is big enough to fight his own fights.
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.
WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION: Back on the job
CHARLESTON -- It was nice to get back to work this summer.
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.
CSX named in asbestos lawsuit
CHARLESTON - A couple is suing eight companies, including CSX Transportation, in an asbestos lawsuit recently filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Legal malpractice suit filed against former St. Albans attorney
CHARLESTON - A Dunbar couple says their attorney failed to execute an examination of the history of a property they were trying to purchase.
Wild horse spurs suit against Texas farm
WINFIELD -- Wild horses couldn't drag a Hurricane man away from filing this lawsuit.
Man blames wife's death on doctor
CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man says his wife's death was avoidable and blames the doctor who treated her.