Member, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Bridgeport WV, 1971-present; Associate, Cole, Raywid & Braverman, Washington DC, 1970-71; Active Duty, U.S. Navy, 1965-67.

Representative issues handled as a mediator include the following: a construction contract claim relating to a $17M intermodal parking facility; a construction contract claim relating to a ski resort personnel conveyor; a commercial dispute under a customer service agreement for the provision of uniforms and related cleaning services; a Federal Court claim for failure of purchaser to pay for goods sold & delivered; a Federal Court declaratory judgment action involving material misrepresentations in application for fire insurance & complicity of independent agent; a landowner claim in Federal Court against Corps of Engineers involving wetland issues under the Clean Water Act & unconstitutional taking without just compensation; a Federal Court claim against a condominium association involving issues under the WV Condominium Act, including charging of illegal fees and illegal termination of water service; a Federal Court claim against FEMA raising issues under the National Flood Insurance Program by reason of damage to a government-owned building; a Federal Court claim involving serious personal injuries sustained in an auto collision with a tractor-trailer; a PA dispute involving a closely held corporation's "freeze out" of its president, raising issues of cumulative voting, valuation of stock, valuation of goodwill, & questionable financial statements; a NC employment termination raising issues of age discrimination, retaliation, & exempt employee status; a PA civil action involving termination of a restaurant manager raising issues of age discrimination; a WV matter involving employee claims of employer breach of promise to promote & wage discrimination; a Federal Court claim alleging wrongful discharge & intentional infliction of emotional distress by a foreman employed by a major electrical utility; a Federal Court claim alleging serious personal injuries as a result of a highway collision between two trucks; a Federal Court claim involving a multi-year coal purchase agreement & raising issues of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, possessory liens, reclamation requirements, escrowing of money, & value of coal; a Federal Court claim asserting violation of the Family Medical Leave Act raising issues of physical exam, requirement to advise the employer of return to work date, & retaliatory discharge; a Federal Court claim for breach of prison construction "design build" subcontract raising issues of bidder's failure to understand construction drawings, bidding procedures generally, pre-bid meetings, & alleged mutual mistake; a Federal Court personal injury claim involving non-English speaking claimant who sustained serious injuries in motor vehicle collision (mediation required interpreter & presented difficult cultural differences of opinion with respect to appropriate compensation); Virginia employee claims of harassment, denial of promotion, discrimination against disabled veteran, abuses of corporate policy, construction discharge, & defamation; a Federal Court class action claim alleging age discrimination in downsizing of a department store; a Federal Court multi-party claim alleging violation of the WV Consumer and Credit Protection Act in the context of vehicle purchases that were dealer financed with assignment of the paper to a national banking institution (purchasers alleged that liens on the traded vehicles were not satisfied and that taxes and registration fees were not paid to the State); a Federal Court claim under USERRA involving return of veteran to private employment as a security guard; a Federal Court claim asserting failure of insurer to pay under a fire policy, arson defense, mortgagee rights, and fraudulent misrepresentation as to contents on inventory forms; a Federal Court claim alleging serious personal injuries when a utility pole fell on the claimant during the course of his employment; a Federal Court claim for breach of contract to sell multiple radio stations & FCC licenses issues.

Admitted to the Bar: West Virginia (1970); Virginia (1971 - inactive); Pennsylvania (1994 - inactive).

The West Virginia State Bar (Past President); The West Virginia Bar Association (Past President); The West Virginia Bar Foundation (Fellow and Past President); American Bar Foundation (Fellow and former State Chair); American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow); The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (Fellow); and Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference (Permanent Member).

University of Virginia (BA-1965); West Virginia University (JD-1970).

$375 Per Hour

English

United States of America

Bridgeport, WV