News from October 2009
And then there were none
"Hey, kids, guess what we're doing today! We're going to spend three hours in the car driving to Proctorville and back to pick up Mom's back-pain medicine and Granny's mood stabilizers. We'll make a day of it. It'll be lots of fun!"
Passing off judge's signature as real nets Lutz probation
Disbarred Charleston attorney John E. Lutz Jr., foreground, is followed by his attorney, Tim Carrico, and an unidentified probation officer following Lutz's sentencing on Oct. 21 in Kanawha Circuit Court for forging a public document. (Photo by Lawrence Smith) CHARLESTON - A disbarred Charleston attorney will remain a free man for his role in attempting to convince a former client a judge signed-off on a bogus settlement agreement.
Timeliness a seeming issue with Grafton
WINFIELD - A wage collection suit is only the latest in a serious of legal woes attorney John Grafton has faced in recent years.
Former legal assistant sues Putnam attorney for unpaid wages
WINFIELD - A Putnam County attorney is accused of failing to deliver on promises he made to a former legal assistant of a more lucrative working environment.
McGraw altered federal suit, Rite Aid claims
McGraw CHARLESTON – Owners of retailer Rite Aid claim West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw altered a suit over generic drug prices in a bid to escape federal jurisdiction.
Three W.Va. firms on national Comcast case committee
PHILADELPHIA – West Virginia law firms won three of 13 seats on a committee that will guide national litigation against cable provider Comcast.
Judge cancels Mingo deputy trial; sheriff prevails
CHARLESTON – Five days before a trial would have started between Mingo County Sheriff Lonnie Hannah and former deputy Roy Glenn Messer, U.S. District Judge Copenhaver cancelled the trial and declared Hannah the winner.
THIS JUST IN: Kanawha County
Oct. 19
THIS JUST IN: Cabell County
Oct. 23
THIS JUST IN: Wayne County
Oct. 19
THIS JUST IN: Ohio County
Oct. 8
THIS JUST IN: Putnam County
Oct. 21
THIS JUST IN: Lincoln County
Oct. 9
Berger's potential replacements talk
Brown CHARLESTON – Now that Irene Berger has been confirmed as a federal judge, Gov. Joe Manchin must narrow his list of seven potential replacements for her on the Kanawha Circuit Court.
Greear might run for Kanawha judgeship
Greear CHARLESTON – Dan Greear, who nearly defeated state Attorney General Darrell McGraw in last year's election, apparently is considering a run for a soon-to-be vacant Kanawha Circuit Court judgeship.
CAMC sues internists for breach of contract
CHARLESTON - A Charleston hospital is seeking repayment on the outstanding balances of loans it made to two doctors to help them establish their respective medical practices.
Phila. judge sentences lawyer to week in jail for 'grandstanding'
Langdoc PHILADELPHIA -– Judge James Lynn of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas sentenced Baron and Budd asbestos lawyer John Langdoc of Dallas to a week in prison and fined him $1,000 for grandstanding at a jury trial.
Charleston newspaper antitrust suit might be nearing end
CHARLESTON –- Department of Justice antitrust lawyers and owners of Charleston's Gazette and Daily Mail newspapers asked for three weeks to settle civil charges that the Gazette created an illegal monopoly when it bought the Daily Mail.
Justices rule Progressive must pay penalty
Ketchum CHARLESTON – Progressive Classic Insurance must pay thousands of dollars for thumbing its nose at Harrison Circuit Judge Thomas Bedell, the Supreme Court of Appeals decided on Oct. 13.