News from June 2015
Woman sues Monongalia Co. bar for on-the-job injuries
MORGANTOWN – A woman is suing Cottrell's Country Store after she claims she was injured on the job. Eugene Pechinki was also named as a defendant in the suit. Frank Cottrell Jr. and Frank Cottrell are temporarily doing business as Cottrell's Country Store. On June 20, 2013, Jessica Shrewsbury was working an evening shift at Cottrell's Country Store and Pechinki, who was a regular patron at the bar, was drinking to a degree that was apparently of concern to Frank Cottrell Jr., according to a c
Mother sues IHOP for her son's injuries
CHARLESTON – A minor, through his mother, is suing International House of Pancakes for injuries sustained at the restaurant. Country Road 3054 Inc. is doing business as International House of Pancakes. On May 27, 2013, J.T.
Woman accuses Goodwill of wrongful termination
CHARLESTON – A woman is suing Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley Inc. after she claims she was wrongfully terminated from her employment. Sandra Show was employed by the defendant from January 2013 until Jan. 15, 2014, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court. Show claims on Jan. 9, 2014, she sustained a serious injury to her back and on Jan. 13, 2014, she sought medical treatment for the injury she sustained. Following her treatment, Show provided the defendant with a medic
Flanigan ready for term as WVAJ president
PRINCETON – As if being a single mother who just started her own law firm isn’t enough, Paige Flanigan has something else to keep her busy for the next year. Flanigan recently was elected president of the West Virginia Association for Justice at the organization’s annual convention. “It is a great privilege and honor to serve as president of the West Virginia Association for Justice,” Flanigan, 49, said.
12 Cabell Co. lawsuits blame Lexapro for birth defects
HUNTINGTON – Twelve lawsuits have been filed against Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. after children were born with birth defects. Forest Research Institute and Forest Laboratories Inc. were also named as defendants in the suit. C.S., by his mother, Rachel Stafford; S.B., by her mother, Kathleen Burch; B.A., by her mother, Jaclynn Bayley; S.G., by her mother, Alexis Griffith; D.R., by her mother, Loretta Ridener; K.W., by his mother, Brandi Workman; J.V., by his mother, Diane Vaspory; J.D., by his
Rapper says he did nothing wrong in courtroom video shoot
NEW CUMBERLAND – Weirton rapper Mini Thin said he went through the proper channels in order to shoot his latest music video in a courtroom in the Hancock County Courthouse earlier this month. Mini Thin is the musical persona of Jason Mallas. Mallas said he isn't sure why Hancock County Commissioner Jeff Davis was upset that the courtroom was used to shoot his music video. "I don't know if his feelings got hurt that he was left out of the loop or what," Mallas said.
St. Albans man blames ambulance authority for son's death
CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County man is suing Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority after he claims it is responsible for the death of his son. Metro Emergency Operations Center is also named as a defendant in the suit. On May 24, 2014, Leland Brown Jr. was playing basketball with his friends near his mother's house in St. Albans when he came inside the house, informed his mother that his chest hurt and collapsed, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court. Leland Brown Sr. c
Man blames school board for I-64 incident, injuries
CHARLESTON – A man is suing the Kanawha County Board of Education after he claims it failed to supervise its students when they were performing work on a vehicle in a mechanics course. Ben Franklin Career & Technical Center was also named as a defendant in the suit. On May 5, 2014, Aaron Walker was traveling east on Interstate 64 when a tire from the front driver's side of Matthew Keen's vehicle, flew off his truck, crossed the concrete barrier and violently struck the windshield of Walker's v
Inmate with gender identity disorder seeks $70M from state DOC
CHARLESTON – A Welch man seeks $70 million from West Virginia Division of Corrections because he hasn't received a response to a letter he sent to the commissioner. On March 3, Charles K.
Man says he received unneeded stent insertion
A man who underwent cardiac surgery in 2012 is suing the doctor and medical facilities that he believes shouldn't have recommended that he get a stent in addition to an angioplasty.
AG's office reaches $2.4M settlement with CashPoint
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday announced his office has reached a $2.4 million settlement with Virginia-based Dominion Management Services, which does business as CashPoint, to resolve allegations it engaged in a wide variety of unlawful debt collection practices. As part of the settlement, the company has agreed to forgive more than $2.36 million in consumer loan debt, as well as release its liens on vehicle titles for 435 West Virginians, most of whom
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Woman sues General Motors for spouse benefits
CHARLESTON – A man is suing General Motors in order to recover surviving spouse benefits under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act pension and disability plan. General Motors Holdings, Prudential Financial Inc and Fidelity Investments were also named as defendants in the suit. Larry L.
Man sues Equifax for credit report act violations
CHARLESTON – A man is suing Equifax Information Services LLC after he claims it violated the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Fair Credit Billing Act. Asset Acceptance LLC was also named as a defendant in the suit. On April 3, Ian Carroll pulled a credit file from Equifax through the annual credit reporting website and the credit report had a serious error, according to a complaint filed June 19 in the U.S.
Walker wants to be conservative voice on bench
MORGANTOWN – Beth Walker says the people of West Virginia realize how important the 2016 election for a seat on the state Supreme Court is. And she wants to bring her conservative vision to the bench. “I’m starting to travel a little bit around the state,” Walker said Tuesday.
Morrisey's challenge to EPA overreach, to be continued
Consider it a trial run, or a dress rehearsal.
SB 411: A solution in search of a problem
CHARLESTON – I was taken aback by The West Virginia Record’s recent editorial on SB 411, the so-called Asbestos Trust Claims Transparency Act. As a Charleston attorney and lawyer for asbestos victims for more than 20 years, I was involved directly with the legislative negotiations on SB 411.
Justices: Court wrong to make childen pay rapist's legal fees
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled that a circuit court cannot force the plaintiffs in a rape case to pay for legal fees associated with him. In the June 16 memorandum decision, the majority concluded that Berkeley Circuit Judge Gray Silver III's Dec. 9 order, which required 12 children and 11 parents from six families to bear 0ne-half of the costs associated with the guardian ad litem appointed to Christopher Michael Jensen while he was incarcerated. Justices Ro
Supreme Court suspends law license
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has agreed to suspend the law license of a West Virginia attorney. The Lawyer Disciplinary Board instituted the consolidated lawyer disciplinary proceedings against David S.
Justices rule for new trial in $24M WVDOT lawsuit
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that a new trial is needed in a lawsuit involving the West Virginia Department of Transportation-Division of Highways and a $24 million verdict. Justice Menis Ketchum authored the majority opinion.