News from January 2016
Tomblin appoints Courrier as 21st Circuit judge
CHARLESTON – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has announced the appointment of James W. "Jay" Courrier Jr. as Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Circuit Court serving Grant, Mineral and Tucker counties. Courrier will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of former Circuit Court Judge Philip Jordan.
Fla. woman says she was injured at Wheeling Island casino
WHEELING – A Florida woman is suing Wheeling Island Gaming Inc. after she claims she was injured while at its gaming facility. On July 11, 2014, Jessica Davidson was at the defendant’s business as a customer/patron when she slipped and fell on an unmaintained/unsafe walkway surface, according to a complaint filed in Ohio Circuit Court. Davidson claims she suffered serious injuries, damages and losses from the fall. Wheeling had a duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of its customers
Parents blame Wayne Co. school board for daughter's injuries
WAYNE – The parents of a 6-year-old are suing the Wayne County Board of Education after they claim their daughter was injured while attending school. Aubrey Rutherford was 6 years old and a student at Kellogg Elementary when she was injured at school, according to a complaint filed in Wayne Circuit Court. Jessica Lorin Rutherford and Dustin Rutherford claim their daughter was unsupervised in a grassy area behind the teacher parking lot, where she and other unsupervised children were playing wi
Doctor accuses Wheeling Hospital of breach of contract
WHEELING – An Ohio County doctor is suing Wheeling Hospital after he claims it breach its employment contract with him. On Nov. 1, 2011, Dr. Victor T. Perrone and Wheeling entered into a contract whereby Wheeling employed Perrone to practice medicine and to act as the defendant’s medical director, according to a complaint filed in Ohio Circuit Court.
Logan Co. man sues Argus Energy for work injuries
WAYNE – A Logan County man is suing Argus Energy after he claims he was injured while working at the Deep Mine No. 8 in Wayne County. On Oct. 15, 2013, Norman Williamson was employed by Argus as a continuous miner operator at its Deep Mine No. 8 in Wayne County and, despite adverse roof conditions, Williamson was working at the mine, when a large rock fell from the mine’s roof and struck him, according to a complaint filed in Wayne Circuit Court. Williamson claims he suffered serious and perma
More than 100 opt out of water crisis settlement
CHARLESTON – More than 100 people have asked to be excluded from a class action settlement over the 2014 water contamination crisis in West Virginia. Those wishing to opt out or object to the settlement – in which Freedom Industries executives have agreed to pay $400,000 – have until next month to do so.
Couple claims man's termination from Metsch Refractories violates WVHRA
NEW CUMBERLAND – An Ohio couple is suing Metsch Refractories over claims of wrongful termination and deprivation of necessary medical benefits.
Company sues Appalachian Piping Products, alleging failure to pay for goods
GLENVILLE – A Connecticut company is suing a Glenville company over claims that it never received full payment for goods delivered.
Delegate announces run for attorney general
?CHARLESTON – Del. Doug Reynolds has announced he will be running for attorney general in the next election. Reynolds, D-Cabell, announced on Tuesday that he had filed to campaign for the office of attorney general.
AG files to intervene in senate vacancy case
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a motion Jan. 12 to intervene in a lawsuit filed over the process of filling a vacancy in the state’s Ninth Senatorial District. “Today, we filed a motion to allow the State of West Virginia to intervene in the Ninth Senatorial District ballot vacancy case so that the opinion of the Attorney General may be properly considered by the West Virginia Supreme Court,” Morrisey said in a statement. “In our formal legal opinion, we con
Wayne woman says object in peanut M&M's broke her tooth
WAYNE – A woman is suing Mars Chocolate North America LLC after she claims there was an object in her peanut M&M’s that caused her to break a tooth. Foodfair Inc. was also named as a defendant in the suit. On June 15, Sue Osborne bit into a peanut M&M and it contained an object not fit for human consumption, which resulted in her breaking a tooth, according to a complaint filed in Wayne Circuit Court. Osborne claims she had purchased the bag of peanut M&M’s on June 13 at Foodfair in Lavalette
Woman accuses Red Cross of wrongful termination
HUNTINGTON – A former employee is suing the American Red Cross after she claims her employment was wrongfully terminated. Joey Anderson, a Human Resources Supervisor, was also named as a defendant in the suit. Valerie Anderson began her employment with ARC on Sept. 22, 2004, and was initially hired as a phlebotomist, according to a complaint filed in Cabell Circuit Court. Valerie Anderson claims she also worked as a Collection Technician II and performed both job duties in an exemplary manne
Cabell Co. woman sues after being injured in Pullman Square garage
HUNTINGTON – A Cabell County woman is suing Parking Solutions Inc. after she claims she was injured in a parking garage. On Jan. 22, 2014, Kellie Hoffman parked her vehicle in Pullman Square Parking Garage in order to go to work as usual as a paying customer, according to a complaint filed Nov. 6 in Cabell Circuit Court. Hoffman claims she was exiting her vehicle in the parking garage when she immediately slipped on black ice on the ground, which was right next to her vehicle, and suffered bod
Parents sue Famco Inc. for car accident injuries
WAYNE – The parents of two children are suing Famco Inc. after they claim it is responsible for a car accident that cause injuries. On Sept. 28, 2013, Michael Smith was driving his personal vehicle on Piedmont Road in Wayne County at approximately 5 p.m.
Ohio woman blames Lowe's for traffic accident
HUNTINGTON – An Ohio woman is suing Lowe’s Home Centers Inc. after she claims its employee was responsible for a collision that caused her injuries and damages. Alvin Phillips, an employee of Lowe’s, was also named as a defendant in the suit. On Nov. 11, 2013, Donna M.
Va. Supreme Court orders Justice companies to pay $1M to coal operator
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Supreme Court has ordered a company owned by West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Justice’s family to pay more than $1 million to a coal operator. On Jan. 7, the Supreme Court upheld a previous judgment by the Dickenson County Circuit Court in a case filed by Lambert Coal Company, which had sued Virginia Fuel and James C. Justice Companies Inc. for the balance owed for the acquisition of Dark Hollow Strip Mine and two additional Lambert coal leases.
Nothing simply symbolic about defeating asbestos lawsuit fraud
Some may dismiss it as merely a symbolic gesture, but symbolic gestures can be powerful. They're often prerequisites for subsequent, substantial change. Without those seemingly futile efforts, no genuine reform would follow.
Right to work is right for West Virginia
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Legislature has signaled that it will take up a right-to-work (RTW) bill in the 2016 session, which begins Jan. 13.
PERSONNEL FILE: Hall selected as top lawyer for mass torts, class actions
CHARLESTON – Hendrickson & Long PLLC attorney Jeffry Hall recently was selected as 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants in the Charleston area. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.
PERSONNEL FILE: Steptoe & Johnson announces attorney promotions
BRIDGEPORT – Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has announced that 11 of its attorneys have been promoted. The firm elevated eight attorneys to member of the firm and three to Of Counsel status.