Focusing on insurance defense litigation

EDUCATION

• B.S. in business administration/accounting, West Virginia University, 1980
• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 1987; Marilyn E. Lugar Trial Association

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT

• Senior associate, MacCorkle Lavender Casey & Sweeney, PLLC, 2002 to present
• General counsel, Offices of the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, 1999-2002; associate counsel, 1994-99
• Senior assistant attorney general, Offices of the West Virginia Attorney General, 1991-94; assistant attorney general, 1988-91
• Assistant prosecuting attorney, McDowell County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, summer 1987

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

• Admitted to practice law in West Virginia, 1987
• Admitted to practice before 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
• As counsel to the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, provided legal advice on insurance regulatory matters to the Commissioner and division directors, and represented the agency in administrative hearings involving agent and company disciplinary matters
• Drafted West Virginia Informational Letters advising the insurance and legal communities as to regulatory positions of the Insurance Commissioner's office, and drafted insurance-related legislation and legislative rules
• Tracked all insurance-related legislation for review and evaluation and testified regarding those bills before state legislative committees
• Served as a representative of the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner at national and regional meetings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and participated in NAIC committees addressing health care and privacy issues
• As assistant attorney general, represented the West Virginia Human Rights Commission on behalf of complainants in sex, religion, national origin, handicap and age discrimination cases involving employment, housing and places of public accommodation
• Investigated and prosecuted civil violations of the West Virginia Antitrust Act, West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, and West Virginia Preneed Funeral Contracts Act
• Represented state agencies in the defense of Workers' Compensation claims filed by state employees and in litigation before the West Virginia Court of Claims

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Member, West Virginia State Bar
• Member, Kanawha County Bar Association
• Member, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia