News from December 2008
Supreme Court starting Access to Justice program
Benjamin CHARLESTON -- The state Supreme Court will initiate a program that will make lawyers more easily accessible to those who may not be able to afford them.
Former custodian sues Kanawha school board for racial abuse
CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a suit against the Kanawha County Board of Education, claiming he was racially abused after he was hired as a custodian.
Drilling company says clean energy additive didn't work
CHARLESTON - A local drilling company has filed a suit against a clean energy corporation, claiming an additive that was supposed to reduce the amount of diesel fuel used in the drilling process did not work.
Inmate says she was assaulted while serving time
CHARLESTON - An inmate at the Anthony Correctional Center has filed a suit against the state Division of Corrections, claiming a supervisor at the prison sexually assaulted her while she was incarcerated.
Morgantown man files suit against SSAC over cousin playing basketball
MORGANTOWN -- A Morgantown man has requested a Monongalia County judge grant a temporary restraining order that would allow his cousin to play varsity basketball at Morgantown High School.
Charleston police must give payroll records to Gazette, Justices say
CHARLESTON – Charleston police must disclose payroll records of six officers to the Charleston Gazette, the state Supreme Court of Appeals decided on Dec. 9.
Chamber begins frivolous lawsuit awareness campaign
Rickard WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A campaign by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform says frivolous lawsuits are harming small businesses and the families that rely on them.
Natural gas case settled for $380 mil
CHARLESTON - One of West Virginia's three large 2007 verdicts has been settled before the U.S. Supreme Court could decide if it wanted to review it.
Manchin names new circuit judges for Mercer, Wayne counties
CHARLESTON -- Gov. Joe Manchin has filled two of the three newly created circuit judgeships across the state.
Losers should pay
There's never a bad time for a good idea.
Greenbrier woman sues Charleston nightclub after she was hit with beer bottle
CHARLESTON - A Greenbrier County woman has files a suit against a local nightclub after she was injured in a fight.
Justices annul license of Williamson attorney
CHARLESTON – The state Supreme Court has annulled the law license of William H. Duty of Williamson, finding he broke the rules of professional conduct 20 times.
State officials violated wildlife sanctuary owner's rights, federal judge rules
ELKINS – State officials violated the constitutional rights of wildlife sanctuary owner Joel Rosenthal, according to U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey.
Suit alleges hospital employee's recklessness caused injury to man's foot
PARKERSBURG – An Idaho man alleges that while visiting a Wood County hospital, he became a patient due to the recklessness of a hospital employee rushing to render assistance to another patient.
Settlement reached in firing of PVH physician's assistant
POINT PLEASANT – A settlement has been reached in a wrongful termination suit filed by a former physician's assistant who alleged the wife of the doctor for whom she was working ordered her fired on suspicions they were having an affair.
State ready to offer Pinecrest TB victims $500K, record show
CHARLESTON – Records show the state of West Virginia is prepared to pay $500,000 to nearly a dozen people who allege they contracted tuberculosis while either visiting or working at a state-run hospital in Beckley.
Federal judge dismisses malpractice suit against public defender
Goodwin HUNTINGTON – He proved he didn't belong in prison, but John David Mooney can't pursue a suit in federal court against the public defender who failed to prove he didn't belong in prison.
Ohio County senator honored by WV CALA
McKenzie CHARLESTON -– A statewide legal reform group has named Republican state Senator Andy McKenzie its "Watchdog of the Year" for raising questions about the attorney general's spending of lawsuit settlement dollars.
THIS JUST IN: Kanawha County
Oct. 17
THIS JUST IN: Monongalia County
Nov. 18