James Heslep focuses his practice in the defense of workplace injuries and illnesses and allegations of workplace safety violations. He has represented employers in more than 1,000 protests before the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges. He has extensive experience in appellate practice of workers’ compensation matters before both the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Mr. Heslep is also experienced in the defense of civil actions arising under the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act. He is a regular presenter at regional and national seminars on workers’ compensation issues and serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member to the Business Department of Fairmont State University, where he teaches Employment Law.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Defended general contractor in workers’ compensation coverage dispute with sub-contractor
- Defended multi-national manufacturer in deliberate intent claim arising from traumatic limb amputation
- Defended multi-national manufacturer in a workers’ compensation claim and related deliberate intent action alleging solvent exposure
- Defended multiple claims arising from allegations of chemical exposure at a mining laboratory
- Defended multi-national manufacturer in deliberate intent claim alleging repetitive stress injury
- Defended local municipality in occupational fatality claim
- Defended multi-national chemical manufacturer in claim of alleged arsenic exposure
- Defended operator of long-term care facilities in claims of medically-resistant staph infections
- Defended environmental contractor in a claim alleging work-related death
- Defended more than 20 claims of permanent total disability
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
- Workers’ compensation
- Deliberate intent actions
- Federal black lung
- Workplace safety
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2004 Steptoe & Johnson
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Harrison County Bar Association
INDUSTRY / CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS
- Safety Committee, Contractors Association of West Virginia
- West Virginia Safety Alliance
- Board of Directors, Criss-Cross, Inc.
AWARDS / HONORS
- 40 Under 40, The State Journal Generation Next (2008)
- Leadership Harrison (2007-08)
PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Workers’ Compensation Return to Work Issues (2010 seminar)
- Workers’ Compensation Update (2009 seminar)
- Managing Employees’ Pre-Existing Conditions (2009 seminar)
- "Occupational Safety,” West Virginia Employment Law Letter (2009)
- Workers’ Compensation Update (2008 - seminar)
- “OSHA Penalties,” West Virginia Employment Law Letter (2008)
- “Work-Related Injuries,” West Virginia Employment Law Letter (2008)
- Construction Law for Engineers, Architects, and Contractors (2007 seminar)
- Workers’ Compensation Update (2007 seminar)
- Advanced Workers’ Compensation (2007 seminar)
- “How to Stay Legal Even if Your Employees Aren’t,” Mountain State Manufacturing (cover article Summer 2007)
- “Workers’ Compensation Update,” West Virginia Employment Law Letter (2007)
- Advanced Workers’ Compensation (2006 seminar)
- “Employer Liability,” West Virginia Employment Law Letter (2006)
- Basic Workers’ Compensation (2006 seminar)
- “Workers’ Compensation Update,” West Virginia Employment Law Letter (2005)