Archive for January, 2010
Yoder running for seat on state Supreme Court
The Charleston Gazette
By The Associated Press
January 28 2010
One of West Virginia’s newer circuit judges is setting his sights on the only statewide office up for election this year.
Jefferson Circuit Judge John Yoder, a Republican, is running for Supreme Court justice.
Yoder was a two-term state senator when he won his judgeship in 2008. He previously served [...]
THEIR VIEW: There are no shortcuts to meaningful judicial reform
The West Virginia Record
By Richie Heath
January 27, 2010
CHARLESTON — While West Virginia’s leaders have spent a lot of time talking about reforming our state courts, we seem to keep spinning our wheels in the mud. Case in point is our most recent judicial reform discussion.
In April 2009, Gov. Joe Manchin announced that he was creating [...]
Groups line up to support CSX asbestos appeal
The West Virginia Record
By John O’Brien
January 25, 2010
RICHMOND (Legal Newsline) — CSX Transportation’s appeal in a case alleging a Pittsburgh law firm conspired with a radiologist to fabricate an asbestos exposure claim is drawing attention from tort reform groups and asbestos expert witnesses.
Several organizations, including the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the American Tort [...]
Greear officially files paper to run for Kanawha circuit judge
The West Virginia Record
By Chris Dickerson
January 25, 2010
CHARLESETON — Charleston attorney Dan Greear has filed candidacy papers to run for a seat on the Kanawha Circuit Court bench.
Greear, a former House of Delegates member and candidate for state Attorney General, said he has been meeting with leaders across the state since he filed pre-candidacy papers [...]
Ads by Personal Injury Law Firm Poke Fun at Faked Injuries
ABA Journal
By Debra Cassens Weiss
January 20, 2010
A personal injury law firm in New York is differentiating itself with TV ads that poke fun at plaintiffs who fake and overstate their injuries.
One ad for Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman begins with a woman sitting at a kitchen table describing her pain, the New York Times reports. “The [...]
Reshaping of West Virginia Supreme Court system in order
Times West Virginian
January 22, 2010
After a series of scandals, ugly elections and millions of dollars in campaign donations, it’s easy to see why the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is so eager to boost its public image and restore people’s confidence in our state’s highest court.
At this point, we’re not sure that’s possible, at [...]
Lawmakers to See Legal Reform Bills This Session
The State Journal
By Michael Hupp
January 21, 2010
CHARLESTON — When Gov. Joe Manchin III delivered his State of the State address Jan. 13, he outlined several initiatives he planned to push during the 2010 legislative session, including what he called “groundwork” for legal reform.
“Whether justified or not, West Virginia is fighting an unfair perception of an [...]
Critics say plan to reform courts not enough
Charleston Daily Mail
By Ry Rivard
January 15, 2010
Several efforts to reform West Virginia’s court system are now fully backed by Gov. Joe Manchin, although supporters of court reform say the plans do not go far enough and critics argue the changes may do little to change things.
In his Wednesday State of the State address, Manchin said [...]
Will W.Va. finally get ‘right of appeal’?
The Charleston Gazette
By Mark Sadd
January 15, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the movies, when the jury hands down an unjust verdict, the scrappy underdog lawyer — isn’t it always either Henry Fonda or Al Pacino? — exclaims with steely resolve: “We’re gonna take it all the way to the Supreme Court!”
He does, and he wins — [...]
Manchin proposes public financing for Supreme Court elections
The Charleston Gazette
By The Associated Press
January 14, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Joe Manchin and the state Supreme Court hope to shore up public confidence in a West Virginia judicial system that has been scrutinized by the nation’s highest court and branded a “hellhole” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Manchin wants to allow for public financing [...]
