West Virginia Lawyer Interviews

Bakersfield, CA Just when you think the water situation in California can’t get much worse, fracking in Kern County has resulted in contaminated water that has so far killed one plaintiff’s cherry orchard. A RICO lawsuit filed two days ago claims that Governor Jerry Brown’s office ordered the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to approve permits to inject contaminated water, which violates the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Stafford, WV American military vet Steven Anthony was already living a life compromised by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when he was suffered another blow to his already fragile mind at a Veteran’s hospital in Martinsburg, Virginia. Steven became a victim of veteran medical malpractice.

Bradford County, PA Depending upon how you look at it, fracking may be good news--if it doesn’t affect you personally. It helps with the global climate because burning gas emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than burning coal. And by supplying 30 percent of America’s natural gas, it’s arguably better for national security. But fracking comes at a cost: Attorney Ben Stewart has some advice for people who have suffered personal injury, property loss and more.

Newport Beach, CA The first Avaulta transvaginal mesh bellwether trial against C.R. Bard has been set for February 5, 2013 by Chief Judge Joseph R. Goodwin in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, where Bard cases have been consolidated. “The Avaulta transvaginal mesh claims are consolidated for discovery purposes,” explains attorney Brian Chase, of Bisnar & Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. “Ultimately each case is individual and if there isn’t a global Multi District Litigation [MDL] resolution, then the cases will get transferred back to their original trial courts and be tried as individual cases.”

Charleston, WV Deadbeat parents owe millions in support payments to children in West Virginia, and attorney Charles "Rusty" Webb is doing his level best to make sure they pay up. He recently filed a legal malpractice class action lawsuit against the State Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, alleging that it is negligent in its duty to aggressively pursue parents who ignore court orders to make child support payments.

Roanoke, WV In January 2009 federal officials linked products manufactured by The Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) to the Salmonella foodborne illness outbreak that sickened 677 people in 45 states and killed nine since early September 2008. Attorney Ron Simon of Simon and Luke has been in negotiations on behalf of his clients since April. "The court has finally approved our settlement process," says Simon. "If you qualify you are entitled to part of this $12 million without having to file a lawsuit."

Wheeling, WV Within the next two years, the American manufacturers of a heart medicine called Digitek will be hit with hail of lawsuits and attorney Teresa Toriseva expects to be one of the personal injury lawyers leading the charge. In April of 2008, the FDA issued a drug recall notice after a number of patients experienced problems. "There are hundreds and probably thousands of cases," says Toriseva. "The number of cases is still developing and nobody can give you anything but a gut estimate. Clients are still being screened and reaching out, looking for help."