News from February 2025
Australian company seeks $9M foreign judgment from Active Resources
WILLIAMSON – An Australian investment company has filed a $9 million foreign judgment petition against a Tennessee-based energy company that has mining operations in southern West Virginia.
Morgantown employee accuses former supervisor of sexual harassment
MORGANTOWN – A woman who works for the City of Morgantown says city leaders failed to enforce its zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy.
Attorney General McCuskey calls for action against counterfeit weight loss drug makers
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey joined a 37-state and territory bipartisan coalition urging the Food and Drug Administration to take swift action against bad actors who are endangering consumers with counterfeit forms of the weight loss and diabetes drugs Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy (GLP-1 drugs).
Uncaging Justice: Michelle Welch’s Battle Against Animal Cruelty Cases on March 3, 2025
This presentation will provide insights into prosecuting one of the stars of Tiger King for wildlife trafficking in Virginia.
Sissonville couple convicted of child neglect, trafficking sued by adopted daughter
CHARLESTON – A Sissonville couple convicted last month of child neglect, human trafficking and more have been sued by one of their adopted children.
Our leaders are failing us in West Virginia
For the last 10 years or so, I have watched as the Republican leadership slowly has stripped away rights of individuals, allowed our already weak healthcare and education system to further erode, let our infrastructure literally fall apart as well as continue to bend over backward to lure big businesses to come in and take even more advantage of our citizens.
Lawmakers again aim for Constitutional amendment on citizen-only voting
CHARLESTON – A House resolution to amend the state Constitution to ensure only United States citizens vote in West Virginia elections has been introduced again. House Joint Resolution 13 was introduced February 18 by Delegate Scot Heckert (R-Wood).
Accident on Barboursville Fall Fest ride results in lawsuit
HUNTINGTON – A accident involving a child at Barboursville Fall Fest has resulted in a lawsuit.
Michigan man says blinded by TASER to eye by Huntington police officer
HUNTINGTON – A Michigan man says he was shot in the eye with a TASER by a Huntington police officer, leaving him permanently blinded in his right eye.
Attorney General McCuskey announces major update on Section 504 lawsuit
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey on Thursday announced an important update on the lawsuit involving the protection of Section 504.
WVCALA says ‘tort tax’ costs citizens $697 each; trial lawyer group disputes these claims
CHARLESTON – A statewide legal reform group says a recent economic impact study shows lawsuit abuse continues to cost West Virginians jobs and hurt the local economy. But a group for state trial attorneys dispute the results, saying the so-called “tort tax” isn’t real.
Woman accuses Ranson's police chief of sexual harassment, unlawful termination
CHARLES TOWN – A Kearneysville woman says she was a victim of sexual harassment and unlawful termination by Ranson’s police chief.
State Supreme Court set to launch online Circuit Court records system
CHARLESTON – West Virginia’s circuit court system is about to step into the 21st century. On February 24, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia announced plans to open a new online system to search and access circuit court records in all 55 counties.
Grandfather says state agency allowed three girls to live with registered sex offender
CHARLESTON – A Mason County grandfather says a state agency allowed three young girls to live with a registered sex offender, who later was sentenced on 136 counts for up to 1,210 years.
Attorney General McCuskey warns consumers of charity and disaster scams in wake of flooding
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is urging consumers to be on guard against impostors calling to solicit monetary donations to aid those affected by the deadly floods in West Virginia.
Man says Huntington officers beat him on city sidewalk
HUNTINGTON – A man says two Huntington police officers beat him, breaking bones and knocking out teeth.
McCuskey says federal disabilty funding will be preserved in gender dysphoria suit
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey says a lawsuit aimed at blocking a plan 17 states say unlawfully attempts to change federal disability law to list gender dysphoria as a disability will preserve federal disability law that allows the disbursement of funds for children with disabilities.
Woman blames salon after permanent eyeliner tattoo spreads over face
PRINCETON – A Virginia woman says a visit to update her permanent eye makeup became a real eye-opening experience.
Steptoe & Johnson Attorney Perry Cavender Named a 2025 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow
Steptoe & Johnson is pleased to announce that Perry Cavender has been selected as a 2025 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow.
Law firm says bank mishandled money in trust account
FAIRMONT – A Fairmont law firm is accusing a bank of improperly handing its money.