Education

• J.D., Washington & Lee University (1986)
• M.A., Rhetorical Studies, University of Iowa (1980)
• B.A., Speech/Communications, University of Iowa (1978)

Bar Admissions

• West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
• U.S. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Affiliations

• West Virginia State Bar
• Mountain State Bar Association

Professional Highlights

• Served as Assistant Attorney General, West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Defense Division (2002-2005, 1986-1988)
• Tried to verdict dozens of cases in areas such as wrongful death, infant injuries, car accidents, medical negligence and product defect in both state and federal court
• Experienced in mass litigation trial groups of more than 3,000 plaintiffs
• Filed and presented one of the first cases heard under the original National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act; method of written documentation presentation became a model recommended by the court
• Appointed by then Surgeon General Louis Sullivan to serve on the National Childhood Vaccine Commission (1990-1993), serving the last two years as Vice-Chairman
• Served as guest speaker in numerous seminars for Products Liability, Child Vaccine Safety and Ethics and Litigation Techniques