Focusing on employment law, governmental tort liability, general insurance litigation, and alternative dispute resolution

EDUCATION

• B.A. in English, University of North Carolina, 1969
• J.D., North Carolina Central University School of Law, 1976

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT

• Founding member of MacCorkle Lavender Casey & Sweeney, PLLC; May 1, 1999 to present
• Partner with Meyer Darragh Buckler Bebenek & Eck, 1989-99; attorney with firm 1982-April 30, 1999; served as Managing Partner, 1995-97
• Former counsel to Majority Leader for West Virginia State Legislature

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

• Admitted to practice law in West Virginia in 1976, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Employment liability claims for sexual harassment, hostile work environment, unlawful termination, retaliatory discharge, whistle-blower litigation, and deliberate intent claims for recovery in excess of Workers' Compensation benefits
• Governmental tort liability in various areas, including civil rights, police misconduct, and employment issues
• Negligence claims including premises liability, vehicular liability, service of alcoholic beverages, construction, and industrial accidents
• Products liability with emphasis on design, manufacture and warning issues related to various products, including automobiles, seat belts, fires, consumer food products, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, weapons, ladders, mobile homes, chemicals, and long-wall mining equipment
• Facilitated dispute resolution in difficult cases involving numerous lawyers and contentious circumstances, serving as bridge-builder between parties, facilitating appropriate resolution of the litigation; and, in circumstances when parties involved had reached an impasse, have been retained to intercede in on-going cases for the sole purpose of obtaining resolution, either as a mediator or to negotiate directly with an adverse party
• Professional liability claims involving lawyers and a variety of heath care providers
• Bad faith/coverage, including contract actions, coverage opinions, unfair claims practices act, and other related insurance issues

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Member, West Virginia State Bar; Kanawha County Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
• Former member, West Virginia State Legislature
• Served in United States Army, 1969-71