News from November 2019
Milton woman files suit against driver over U.S. 60 collision
HUNTINGTON – A Milton woman who was injured in a vehicle accident is seeking damages from the driver who struck her vehicle.
Oklahoma wanted decades of funding from opioid verdict, but will get only one year's worth
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Oklahoma’s landmark verdict in its opioid case against Johnson & Johnson does not mean the company must pump billions of dollars into the state over the next 30 years, a judge ruled Friday.
DOI seeks to dismiss lawsuit filed by Justice companies alleging breach of contract
ROANOKE — The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against it filed by several companies owned by Gov. Jim Justice’s family.
Justice companies want retired miner lawsuit dismissed
BLUEFIELD — Several companies owned by Gov. Jim Justice's family are asking for a lawsuit against them filed by retired miners to be dismissed.
New York's incredible shrinking lawsuit against Exxon could mean trouble for Massachusetts
New York’s surprising decision to drop half its case against ExxonMobil in the closing arguments of a closely watched trial over climate-fraud claims was unusual and probably indicates the state never had the evidence it needed, said an experienced litigator who has handled environmental lawsuits for government clients.
Ohio Co. school board settles with man who says he was sexually assaulted by former teacher
WHEELING – The Ohio County Board of Education has settled claims with a man who had blamed the school system for years of sexual assault by a former teacher with whom he had children.
Wellsburg doctor alleges state medical examiner was negligent in determining his wife's death
CHARLESTON – A Wellsburg doctor is claiming the West Virginia medical examiner was negligent in determining his wife's cause of death as acute and chronic alcohol intoxication.
Army vet sues mortgage lender to stop foreclosure on East Lynn farm
WAYNE – A U.S. Army Iraq War Veteran is suing Carrington Mortgage over allegations it refused to offer him mortgage loan assistance and filed for foreclosure on his East Lynn farm where he and his son live after his estranged wife emptied their bank account.
Clay County man alleges GMC vehicle doesn't conform with warranties, seeks to cancel contract
CHARLESTON – A Clay County man who purchased a 2018 GMC Terrain vehicle claims General Motors has failed to honor the vehicle's warranty by making necessary repairs or give him a comparable replacement vehicle in violation of state and federal laws.
Former Seminole Mining worker alleges she was fired for her complaints of gender, pay discrimination
CHARLESTON – A former Seminole West Virginia Mining worker claims she was paid less than her male counterparts for doing the same job and was fired in retaliation when she returned from a medical leave.
Two West Virginia attorneys face lawsuit by Cunningham Energy over legal malpractice allegations
CHARLESTON – Cunningham Energy is suing two West Virginia attorneys after the company lost an employment-related lawsuit that resulted in a more than $300,000 verdict.
Member alleges female patrons were secretly videotaped at Planet Fitness
FAYETTEVILLE – A West Virginia woman is claiming that female patrons were secretly videotaped by employees at a Raleigh County Planet Fitness.
Patron sues Davis' Place after slipping on liquid
HUNTINGTON – A bar and grill in Huntington is facing a lawsuit filed by a customer who slipped on liquid on the floor and suffered injuries.
Patient alleges breach of standard of care by Raleigh General caused infection to get worse
PINEVILLE – A West Virginia man alleges an orthopedic physician, nurses and staff at Raleigh General failed to treat his infection and osteomyelitis, which led to the worsening of his infection and a possible leg amputation.
DuPont says 'Dark Waters' film doesn't tell full story of PFAS, litigation
PARKERSBURG – DuPont executives say a new movie doesn’t accurately tell the full story about the chemicals that allegedly leaked into waterways around Parkersburg from one of its plants.
Fee-fight emerges in Purdue Pharma bankruptcy over paying plaintiffs firms
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Fighting has erupted among creditors in the multibillion-dollar Purdue Pharma bankruptcy, as attorneys representing individual claimants and other creditors object to paying millions of dollars in fees to private lawyers representing governmental claimants - including thousands of municipalities with federal lawsuits against the opioid industry.
Judge orders Ohio Co. circuit clerk to accept filing she had previously refused
WHEELING – A circuit judge has ordered that Ohio County’s circuit clerk accept a filing she previously refused. Ohio Circuit Chief Judge Ronald Wilson made the ruling Nov. 13 from the bench during a morning hearing. A week earlier, he had filed a Rule to Show Cause ordering Circuit Clerk Brenda Miller to appear for the hearing.
You can't blame Kroger for a pre-existing condition
If insurance companies won’t cover pre-existing conditions, why should supermarkets? You didn’t know supermarkets cover pre-existing conditions? Well, they don’t, actually, but someone needs to explain that to Jennifer Thompson and Carolyn Foster.
It's time to tell the truth about unions
What does Right To Work mean for West Virginia? In a recent HADCO meeting, I asked a site selection expert if West Virginia’s passage of Right To Work was a factor in our region being considered by his company. He answered bluntly, “We would have never considered West Virginia without passing Right To Work.”
Drug crisis calls for action to heal our state
When I look at West Virginia and our debilitating drug epidemic, it shakes me to my core. I cannot understand why our current governor’s plan to address this challenge remains in draft form after being office for over 1,000 days. I know just about every nook and cranny of our state, and this crisis touches all of us. It’s why I recently announced a lengthy and detailed action plan to address this crisis.