With the close of the 2012 legislative session comes the post-session analysis of what the Legislature did, and how it affects the everyday lives of most West Virginians. This past legislative session may be remembered more for its missed opportunities than anything else. In an editorial earlier this week, The Charleston Daily Mail wrote that state lawmakers did little to address the actual policies which
As the 2012 Legislative Session came to a close this past weekend, West Virginia’s personal injury bar gave everyone a strong reminder of who’s calling the shots in the West Virginia Legislature. Members of the state’s business community were up in arms over H.B. 4486 – a giveaway to personal injury lawyers who want to know how much insurance coverage West Virginia car owners
The folks at Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch have recently highlighted a potentially astounding lawsuit scam – one that evokes comparison to some of the serious allegations of asbestos fraud in West Virginia. A stunning video hosted by the American Tort Reform Association shows a plaintiffs’ consultant outlining his 11-step game plan for “winning the lottery” with “big money” lawsuits. The plan apparently revolves around filing
News of a nationwide $25 billion settlement with mortgage providers is sparking questions about how large sums of the settlement funds will be spent by state attorneys general during an election year. Critics worry that significant portions of the settlement funds – which are supposed to benefit hurting homeowners – could amount to a slush fund for election campaigns. As LegalNewsline.com reports: Democratic attorneys general
The Charleston Daily Mail has a story today about proposed legislation which would reduce the pension payments that state judges must currently make to the Judges’ Retirement System. Under the rule change, many circuit judges and Supreme Court justices would see a bump in pay of more than $4,000 per year. As Ry Rivard reports of the legislation: If the bill passes, it would
As the 2012 legislative session progresses, we’re getting a clearer picture of what’s likely to take place. And while this year’s session started with a decidedly “pro-jobs” theme — aimed at taking advantage of the state’s Marcellus Shale prospects — the legislature’s “pro-jobs” momentum seems to have tailed off as of late. Many of the legal reform measures introduced have seen little movement to date.
Attorney General Darrell McGraw’s office has been criticized over the years for using the power of his office for political gain. During the 2004 election year, the Attorney General’s office spent nearly $1 million of state funds on television advertisements that appeared to be geared towards building public recognition of the McGraw name. The Charleston Daily Mail criticized the media blitz, writing that “using the power
A supporter shares her story on getting “sucked into lawsuit hell” in West Virginia’s courts: Out of nowhere, I was getting sued for a fender bender two years prior. Originally, they were suing me as the driver (which I wasn’t). Instead of dismissing the case, the judge told them to re-filed and sue the correct driver. So they are now suing “Jane Doe” and
While a lot has been made about the amount of third party spending in West Virginia judicial elections, not much coverage has been devoted to the amount of money actually spent by judicial candidates in recent elections for West Virginia’s high court. The 2012 Court elections look to be no exception, begging the question of whether personal wealth is a necessary requirement for service on
In 2010, state lawmakers passed a bill creating a public financing pilot program for this year’s Supreme Court elections. While the measure was praised as an attempt to curb the influence of outside money on judicial elections, it looks like only one of the eight announced candidates for Court will qualify for the pilot program. As WV MetroNews reports: A Republican candidate for the
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Attorney General Darrell McGraw endorses President Barack Obama for President in 2008, calling for "change at the top of the ticket."
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