News from January 2021
West Virginia newspaper company accuses Google, Facebook of digital advertising antitrust violations
HUNTINGTON – The state’s largest newspaper company has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Google and Facebook alleging the tech giants have monopolized the digital advertising market.
Encova agrees to cover claim of Weirton firefighter battling COVID
WELLSBURG – A day after a petition was filed to force the state insurance commissioner to open a workers’ compensation claim for a Weirton firefighter who contracted COVID-19 on the job, Encova Insurance says it will cover the claim.
State GOP intervenes in Supreme Court case about Wayne County delegate appointment
CHARLESTON – A day after the state Supreme Court said it would hear oral arguments in the petition regarding the appointment of a new Wayne County delegate, the state Republican Party has filed a motion to intervene in the case. Meanwhile, an attorney says he has found evidence of hypocrisy with how Gov. Jim Justice’s office has handled the process.
Press release: William C. Brewer named as Best Lawyers 2021 Lawyer of the Year in criminal defense: white-collar in Morgantown
Brewer & Giggenbach PLLC is pleased to announce that William C. Brewer has been named as Best Lawyers 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Morgantown.
Capito, other senators introduce bill to block Biden plan to block energy moves
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito joined some Senate colleagues to introduce a bill that would prevent the president and other officials from blocking energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters without Congressional approval.
Incapacitated firefighter's family says Encova won't open his COVID workers' comp claim
WELLSBURG – The family of a Weirton firefighter in the hospital fighting for his life after contracting COVID-19 while on the job wants the state insurance commissioner to open, investigate and decide a workers’ comp claim.
Man claims Westover officers attacked him when he was lawfully recording them
CLARKSBURG — A man says a Westover police officer deprived him of his rights under the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments when he was recording them on his cell phone.
State Senator pushing for changes to how lawmaker vacancies are filled
WAYNE – In wake of legal action regarding the filling of a House of Delegates vacancy, one state senator says he wants to see changes made to the selection process.
Morrisey, other AGs tell Biden they're watching for federal overreach
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a six-state coalition telling President Joe Biden that state attorneys general will be vigilant in watching for and opposing federal overreach, especially when such action puts jobs and civil liberties at risk.
Supreme Court will hear state employees' pay case in March
CHARLESTON – A case involving state employees who claim they were shortchanged when the state switched from twice monthly to biweekly pay will be heard by the state Supreme Court.
Judge rules against postponing in-person school until staffs are vaccinated
CHARLESTON – A Kanawha Circuit Judge has denied the temporary restraining order sought by the state's two largest teacher’s unions that sought to postpone a return to full-time in-person schooling until all school personnel receive a complete vaccination against COVID-19 and to allow county school boards to determine how and when in-person instruction and activity will resume.
WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: 2021 West Virginia Inauguration Ceremony
The 2021 West Virginia Gubernatorial and Constitutional Officer Inauguration Ceremony was held Friday afternoon on the North Side of the State Capitol Building in Charleston.
BAILEY & GLASSER LLP: Bailey Glasser Seeks Approval of $5 million ESOP Settlement
Lawyers from Bailey Glasser reached an agreement with Bankers Trust Co. of South Dakota in which Bankers Trust will pay $5 million to resolve a proposed class action lawsuit alleging the company violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA: U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center, and Monongalia County QRT offer training
A virtual human trafficking training will be held next week as a part of National Human Trafficking and Slavery Prevention Month, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
DuPont, Chemours, Corteva agree to split expected $4 billion PFAS settlement costs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - DuPont has agreed to split an expected $4 billion litigation bill over the environmentally pervasive chemical PFAS with Chemours and Corteva, former business units that DuPont spun out in 2015 and 2019.
ATRA's Joyce touts effectiveness of 'Judicial Hellholes' program
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Many elected officials are oblivious to the restrictions on health care access and the overall damage to the economy caused by rampant abuse of the legal system, Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association, told the Washington Legal Foundation in a recent interview.
WEST VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Attorney General Morrisey: Biden’s Day One Actions Cause Concern
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey issued the following statements in response to executive orders and other actions planned by President Joseph Biden hours after his inauguration.
Wayne Co. GOP chairman files Supreme Court petition regarding pending appointment of new delegate
CHARLESTON – The chairman of the Wayne County Republican Committee has filed a petition with the state Supreme Court saying Gov. Jim Justice is not following law in choosing a candidate to replace resigned Delegate Derrick Evans.
WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: Gov. Justice appoints Harold Ward as WVDEP Cabinet Secretary
Gov. Jim Justice announced that he has appointed Harold Ward as Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP).
Justices to hear transgender teen harassment lawsuit against school board
CHARLESTON – The case involving a transgender Harrison County teen will be heard by the state Supreme Court in March.