News from August 2015
Putnam Circuit Clerk employees file pay grievance
WINFIELD – Employees of the Putnam Circuit Clerk’s office have filed a grievance with the County Commission, claiming they have been neglected and mistreated financially. The employees filed the grievance Aug. 3, days after reviewing the minutes from a Putnam County Commission meeting in which employees of the County Clerk’s office were given raises. “Within the minutes, it states the County Clerk has hired a new full time employee with a starting pay at $11.19 an hour,” the grievance states.
Marshall Co. couple sues public service district, alleging negligence
MOUNDSVILLE – A Marshall County couple is suing a public utility corporation in their municipal jurisdiction, alleging negligence in equipment maintenance and safety.
E-ZPass scam reappearing in state, AG's office says
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office says an E-ZPass email phishing scam is reoccurring in the state. The scam is again popping up in states that contract with E-ZPass to allow motorists to pay tolls electronically on turnpikes and toll roads.
Morrisey warns students about texting scam
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says students should be careful about responding to unsolicited text messages they receive from unknown telephone numbers. This scam targets young adults by using an unknown phone number to mislead them into responding to text messages.
Barbour Co. companies fight over wireless accounts
PHILIPPI – A Barbour County couple who owns a telecommunications company is suing another firm and their owners, alleging unlawful property conversion, saying the defendants engaged in subterfuge by manipulating corporate accounts.
W.Va. Power sues attorney for breach of contract
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Baseball is suing former attorney R. Michael Martin after it claims he breached his contract with the company. On Feb. 23, 2005, WVB – also known as the West Virginia Power minor league baseball team – and Martin entered into a suite agreement for the defendant's law firm to lease Suite No. 4 from WVB at the rate of $20,000 per year, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Pipeline Energy hit with four more discrimination suits
MOUNDSVILLE – Four more lawsuits have been filed against Pipeline Energy Group after the plaintiffs claim they were discriminated against. Pipeline is doing business as Carl Smith Pipeline. Edward Smith and Michael Smith were also named as defendants in the suit. Leslie Long, Gara Drinko, Stacey Shields and Stephanie Wall were employed by the defendants, according to four complaints filed in Marshall Circuit Court. The plaintiffs claim Edward Smith and Michael Smith created a hostile work en
Moundsville couple blames Williams Ohio Valley Midstream for damage
MOUNDSVILLE – A Moundsville couple is suing Williams Energy Resources LLC for property damages. Williams Ohio Valley Midstream LLC was also named as a defendant in the suit. Prior to July 1, 2013, the defendants have possessed, occupied, used and/or controlled real property adjacent to and uphill of property owned by Ronald Gouldsberry and Nancy Gouldsberry, according to a complaint filed in Marshall Circuit Court. The Gouldsberrys claim the defendants altered, modified and carried on activit
Logan County couple sues 3 medical professionals, alleging failure to treat infection
LOGAN—A Logan County couple is suing three medical professionals, alleging medical malpractice in the treatment of the wife for a serious infection.
AG warns students about opening new credit accounts
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urges college students to be careful about protecting their finances and personal information when signing up for credit and debit cards. Every year, credit and debit card providers flood students with offers to apply for cards.
Morrisey: W.Va. to get $845K in Aranesp, Enbrel settement
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says his office has participated in a $71 million multi-state settlement with Amgen Inc. to resolve allegations it unlawfully promoted the biologic medications Aranesp and Enbrel. West Virginia will receive $845,637.82 as part of the settlement, which was negotiated between the company and Attorneys General from 48 states and the District of Columbia.
Counting the days until the EPA’s war on coal can be stopped
It's more than 17 months away – more than 500 days, more than 12,000 hours – but it can't come soon enough.
Public officials struggling to understand 'trinkets law'
MORGANTOWN – West Virginia public officials, from the governor to county officeholders, are sifting through an advisory opinion by the state Ethics Commission to try to figure out how they can and cannot use their names and/or likenesses.
Jackson Kelly attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers
CHARLESTON – Jackson Kelly PLLC has announced that 65 of the firm’s lawyers were recently named in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Lawyers from across the firm’s 12 offices were honored in the publication. In addition, 11 Jackson Kelly lawyers were named as Best Lawyers’ 2016 Lawyers of the Year.
35 W.Va. Dinsmore attorneys listed in Best Lawyers
CHARLESTON – Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has announced that 33 of its attorneys from West Virginia recently were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, four West Virginia attorneys received “Best Lawyers 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” designations. In each city, one lawyer from each practice area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.” The attorneys received the honor based on reviews by earning a high level of respect among their peers fo
Steptoe & Johnson named top energy firm in state
WHEELING – Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has been top listed in West Virginia for Energy Law by The Best Lawyers in America for the second consecutive year.
10 Bowles Rice attorneys named 'Lawyers of the Year'
CHARLESTON – The newly released 2016 edition of Best Lawyers in America recognizes 10 Bowles Rice attorneys as “Lawyers of the Year” in 10 different practice areas, including corporate law, litigation and education law. Charleston attorneys Julia A.
Potter inducted as American Bar fellow
WHEELING – The law firm Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC announced that Sharon L.
AG's office investigating merger of Charleston newspapers
CHARLESTON – The state Attorney General wants to investigate last month’s merger of Charleston’s two daily newspapers. Patrick Morrisey’s office filed a petition Aug. 13 in Putnam Circuit Court to enforce an investigative subpoena looking into possible state Antitrust Act violations and to enjoin the Daily Gazette Company from continuing the merger of the papers. “The Attorney General has probably cause to believe an apparent merger of the Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail newsp
Raleigh woman blames Thyssenkrupp Elevator for wreck, injuries
BECKLEY—A Raleigh County woman is suing a Georgia-based corporation doing business in Charleston and its employee, alleging tortuous injury, negligence, recklessness and vicarious liability in a four-vehicle roadway collision.