News from August 2009
*** Massey Energy Scholarship created at Marshall
HUNTINGTON -– The Massey Energy Scholarship for Engineering has been established by the Marshall University Foundation Inc., and the first award is planned for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Benjamin dissents in Cabell murder case
Benjamin CHARLESTON – West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Brent Benjamin says a recent decision will hinder the fight against reducing domestic violence.
FINANCIAL FOCUS: Now is the time to consider a GRAT
CHARLESTON -- A Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) is one of the most powerful and tax efficient wealth transfer tools available today.
Supreme Court receives $30,000 for Juvenile Justice Database
CHARLESTON -– The state Supreme Court has received $30,000 for support of the Juvenile Justice Database.
Injury at Toyota plant avoidable, suit alleges
WINFIELD - A Kanawha County man is suing his employer for a work-related injury he suffered two years ago.
Former Charleston officer named in civil rights suit
These pictures show wounds Nitro resident David A. Botkins alleges he sustained after he was arrested by St. Albans police officer Brandon L. Tagayun in November. (Courtesy photos) CHARLESTON - A former Charleston police officer, whose actions resulted in the city paying a nearly $2 million settlement to the estate of Fayette County woman, now is accused of brutalizing a Nitro man while on duty at his new job as a St. Albans officer.
Two sue auto auction over golf cart wreck
CHARLESTON -- Two men say they were fired for filing workers' compensation claims related to injuries from an on-the-job golf cart wreck.
McGraw issues subpoena to financial group
McGraw CHARLESTON – State Attorney General Darrell McGraw has subpoenaed Ambac Financial Group Inc., becoming the third state attorney general to investigate the company over possible antitrust violations.
J.C. Penney denies fault in hair salon accident
WHEELING – J.C. Penney denies it is at fault for a woman's alleged severe and disabling injuries she incurred after she says she tripped over a black cord while in the store's hair salon.
Insurer wants $300K from GE for stove fire
WHEELING – An insurance company is seeking more than $300,000 from General Electric Company as reimbursement for more than $100,000 in damages it paid to a man and woman after it says a stove the electric company manufactured caused a fire at a Wheeling home.
Company fights back in federal asbestos suit
CHARLESTON -– A company named as a defendant in an asbestos lawsuit is fighting back, alleging the complaint against it should be dismissed because it had no choice other than to follow the U.S. Navy's strict specifications when it manufactured products for a ship.
Tee Many Martoonis
A drunk is charged with falling asleep while smoking in bed and setting his apartment building on fire. In court, he insists that it wasn't really his fault. "But, judge," he protests, "the bed was already on fire when I lay down in it."
Peirce hasn't turned over documents to CSX
Peirce WHEELING – Asbestos lawyer Robert Peirce of Pittsburgh hasn't turned over vital documents to CSX Transportation for the railroad's fraud and conspiracy trial against Peirce's firm and radiologist Ray Harron of Bridgeport, according to CSX lawyers.
Suit says hospital staff wrongly declared infant dead
CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County couple say both they and their newborn baby were traumatized permanently when staff at a Charleston hospital informed them the baby died only to later discover he was in fact alive.
Drug companies says there are bogus Digitek suits
Goodwin CHARLESTON – Drug companies Actavis Totowa and Mylan Pharmaceuticals claim they have detected bogus lawsuits in national litigation over heart medicine Digitek.
UMW not properly notified of coal company's suit
CLARKSBURG – Consolidation Coal Company didn't properly notify the United Mine Workers of America that it sued the union for the right to fire a miner.
Lutz, former law partners named in legal malpractice suit
CHARLESTON - Though John Lutz's legal career may be over, his legal troubles aren't.
Disbarred attorney pleads guilty to forging records
CHARLESTON - The Kanawha County Prosecutor's Office has reached a plea agreement with a disbarred attorney in his use of forged documents in a former client's civil suit.
Suit claims police illegally searched, took cash
This hotel in South Charleston is where John Bradberry alleges police entered his room without a warrant on May 11, and confiscated over $7,000 in cash. Since he has not been charged with a crime, Bradberry filed suit last month seeking return of his money. (Photo by Lawrence Smith)
CHARLESTON - A guest at a Charleston-area hotel claims in a lawsuit he was a victim of a robbery. The alleged robbers, the man claims, were the cops.
Ohio man says conversations improperly taped, distributed
CHARLESTON - An Ohio businessman alleges that officials inside one of West Virginia's regional jails conspired with people outside the jail to make unauthorized recordings of telephone calls he had with an inmate, and turn them over to his ex-wife.