Dave Goddard focuses his practice in the areas of long term care litigation and energy litigation. Mr. Goddard has successfully tried cases in both state and federal courts. He has handled serious medical professional liability cases, as well as complex litigation involving the natural resource industry, banks, construction companies, and employer liability.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE 

• Jury trial for nursing home facility defending claims of abuse, neglect, and wrongful death 
• Mass litigation jury trial for companies involved in extractive resources industry relating to claims stemming from widespread flooding 
• Jury trial for energy client against claims of property damage allegedly resulting from drop in natural gas pressure 
• Defended claims of traumatic brain injury allegedly resulting from motor vehicle collision

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION 

• Professional liability 
• Long term care litigation 
• Medical malpractice litigation 
• Energy and commercial litigation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1999     Schrader Byrd & Companion 
2001     Steptoe & Johnson

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Board of Directors, Harrison County Bar Association 
• Defense Research Institute 
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia

CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

• Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central West Virginia 
• West Virginia Forestry Association 
• West Virginia Manufacturers Association 
• Clarksburg Lions Club

PUBLICATIONS

• Authored “Defending an Unfair Trade Practices Act Cause of Action Based on Post-Litigation Conduct” 2004 Defense Trial Counsel Notebook 
• Authored “Actual Innocence: When a Former Criminal Defendant Sues for Legal Malpractice, Should Proof of His ‘Actual Innocence’ Be a Prerequisite to Recovery in West Virginia?” 2000 Defense Trial Counsel Notebook 
• Presented seminars regarding West Virginia's Medical Professional Liability Act, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Open Governmental Proceedings Act (OGPA), and civil trial practice