Member
Litigation
J.D. West Virginia University
B.A. West Virginia University
Office:
Morgantown, WV
(304) 598-8113
Biography
Laurie Barbe represents insurance companies in response to first and third party insurance claims and defends individuals and businesses in claims involving personal injury, wrongful death, products liability and property damage. She has also been involved in appellate proceedings before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is co-leader of the firm's Insurance Company Team.
Memberships & Awards
Professional
Defense Research Institute
• Membership Committee• Program Vice-Chair - Bad Faith Seminar• Insurance Law Committee• Co-Chair Personal Lines Committee• SIU/Fraud Committee• Steering Committee for 2016 ICCI Seminar• Marketing Committee for 2014 ICP Seminar• West Virginia State Representative (2014-2017)Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia• Past President (2013-2014)• Board Member (2002-2017)• 2016 President's Award • Insurance Law CommitteeProperty & Liability Resource BureauWest Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Arson InvestigatorsBest Lawyers® 2021 Morgantown, WV Litigation - Insurance, Lawyer of the YearBest Lawyers® 2020 Morgantown, WV Insurance Law, Lawyer of the YearThe Best Lawyers in America®, Insurance Law (2007-Present), Litigation - Insurance (2019-Present)
Key Experience
Has issued coverage opinions and litigated coverage issues on a variety of commercial property and liability claims, including claims for business interruption coverage
Provided assistance to insurance companies writing new business in West Virginia to assure their policies are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Prepared coverage opinions and defended insurers in West Virginia state and federal declaratory judgment actions involving claims arising under personal, commercial, excess, and surplus lines policies
Know-How
Alert
Work Experience
1990 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
1988-1990 Clerk, The Honorable Robert B. Stone, Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia
1988-1990 Clerk, The Honorable Robert B. Stone, Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, Presentation to Young Lawyers on Motion Practice (Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Annual Meeting 2016)Speaker, “Preparing Your Client for a Deposition” (Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Deposition Boot Camp 2015)Speaker, "Medicare and Medicaid Changes" (Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Paralegal Seminar 2013)Speaker, "Fraud Awareness and Investigations" (PLRB Central Regional Adjusters Conference 2011)Speaker, "Automobile Insurance Fraud" (Erie 2010)Speaker, "Fire Investigations and Fire Analysis" (State Farm 2008)Speaker, "Unravel the Insurance Coverage Implications of Mold Claims" (NBI 2005)Article, “Fraud, Concealment, and Misrepresentation: What Legal Tools and Defenses are Available to Insurers?” DRI In-House Defense Quarterly (Fall 2015)Article, "Burning Down the House," Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Summer 2012)Article, "Additional Items of Interest" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Winter, 2010)Article, "Additional Items of Interest" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Summer, 2009)Article, "Additional Items of Interest" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Spring, 2009)Article, "Additional Items of Interest" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Summer, 2008)Article, "Rumor Has It" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Winter, 2007)Article, "Additional Items of Interest" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Summer, 2007)Article, "Insurance Adjuster Licensing in West Virginia" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Winter, 2006)Article, "Protecting Proprietary Business Documents During Discovery" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Summer, 2006)Article, "Insurance Cases of Interest" Steptoe & Johnson Insurance Law Update (Summer, 2004)