Steptoe & Johnson

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Developed first West Virginia physician self-insurance plan in compliance with West Virginia MPLA; adopted and approved by two major hospital systems to maintain physician practicing privileges; drafted statutorily compliant trust agreement and insurance plan; secure services of, and liaison with, local banking institution for trust administration
• Defended practicing physicians and medical institutions in litigation involving allegations of medical malpractice, including psychiatric, obstetrical, internal medicine and surgical areas of medical practice, both at trial and through dispositive motions practice
• As staff counsel, drafted, edited and analyzed proposed legislation submitted for consideration by the West Virginia House of Delegates Committee on the Judiciary (2007 and 2008 sessions) including presentation of proposed bills to the full committee and discussion of relevant legislative issues with committee members and chair; assisted chair in analysis and draft legislation for regional jail/DOC financing/budget and population overcrowding issues
• Defended physicians, mid-wives, nurses and institutions involving allegations of medical malpractice in the following medical specialties: midwifery, OB-GYN, family practice, anesthesia, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, cardio-thoracic surgery, ER and general hospital care, nursing home care, and correctional institution care
• Defended industry, private citizen and governmental entities in cases involving coal truck, eighteen-wheeler and automobile collisions related to issues of vehicle design, mechanical malfunction, driver error, roadway conditions, death serious injury

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2011
  Steptoe & Johnson
• 2009-2011
  Warner Law Offices
• 2007-2009
  Reese Law Office
• 2005-2006
  Campbell Woods
• 2004-2005
  Bailey & Wyant
• 2000-2004
  Steptoe & Johnson
• 1998-2000
  Shuman, McCuskey & Slicer
• 1994-1997
  Donahue, Seidman & Reese
• 1989-1994
  Goldstein & Byrne
• 1987-1989
  Law Offices of Sterl Shinnaberry
• 1986
  Assistant Attorney General, Division of Energy & Environment, West Virginia Attorney General's Office
• 1984-1986
  General Counsel, District 17 UMWA
• 1982-1984
  USN JAGC-Trial Counsel, Naval Legal Service Office, Yokosuka, Japan
• 1981-1982
  USN JAGC, Court Commissioner, U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AWARDS

• West Virginia State Bar Association

PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• “Employee Privacy in the Workplace,” SES: Fundamentals of Employment Law, Huntington, West Virginia, February 17, 2009
• “The Importance of the Medical Discovery Process and How Best to Utilize the LNC in the Discovery Process from Claim to Trial,” West Virginia State Bar Association: Medical Issues in Litigation, 2nd Annual Spring Conference, Legal Nurse Consultant Section of the West Virginia State Bar Association, Charleston, W.Va., 2006
• “Evidentiary Issues in Deliberate Intent Litigation,” West Virginia CLE: Evidence, Morgantown, W.Va., September 23-24, 2005
• “Trends in Medical Malpractice,” West Virginia State Bar Association: Medical Issues in Litigation, 1st Annual Spring Conference, Legal Nurse Consultant Section of the West Virginia State Bar Association, Charleston, W.Va., 2005
• “Oops, there’s a New Tort in Town: Spoliation of Evidence: The Case of Hannah v. Heeter,” West Virginia CLE: Litigation; Canaan Valley Lodge, W.Va., February 6-7, 2004
• Reese, P.K, & Huff, K.J. (2004). Legal Briefs: Defending the Negligent Credentialing Claim. The Communiqué, the West Virginia Bar Association 10(2), 13-20. [reprinted with permission from the Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting]
• Reese, P.K, & Huff, K.J. (2003). Defending the Negligent Credentialing Claim. Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting, 14(3), 3-7
• “Damages in Claims Involving Real and Personal Property,” West Virginia CLE: Damages; Charleston, W.Va., January 24, 2003