WV moving forward with reforms; more work still remains.
In recent years, West Virginia has taken some significant steps towards reforming its broken civil justice system.
•After years of hard work, the West Virginia Legislature has finally passed legislation to help protect every individual’s right to appeal. Click here to view the final version of the recently passed appeal bond cap.
•When lawsuits were driving local doctors out-of-state, the West Virginia legislature responded by enacting sweeping medical liability reforms.
•Recent legislation has also helped ensure that certain individuals won’t be held responsible for damages caused by others.
•And common-sense reforms to “third party bad faith” lawsuits have reduced consumer costs of owning a car or house. |
However, West Virginia’s work is far from complete. Many aspects of the state’s legal system are still broken.
•A recent decision by the state Supreme Court once again opened our courtrooms to out-of-state plaintiffs seeking jackpot justice. Governor Manchin and the West Virginia Legislature had the chance to enact meaningful venue reform, but instead chose to pass legislation that is admittedly flawed. Now, we will have to wait until future legislative sessions to fix this inadequate legislation.
Click here to view the watered down venue law.
•A recent decision by the state Supreme Court has once again opened our courtrooms to out-of-state plaintiffs seeking jackpot justice.
•Some people can still be held liable for the damages caused by others.
•Attorney General Darrell McGraw has made a habit of hiring his campaign contributing personal injury lawyer friends to lucrative legal deals.
•Personal injury lawyers, seeking millions in profits, have established lawsuit mills based on questionable “expert” testimony. In one such case, a personal injury firm relied upon testimony of a doctor who didn’t even exist! |
Clearly, more work must be done to ensure fairness for all West Virginian’s.
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