Verdict . News

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed settlement validity between former professor and Bluefield State College

West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Settlement in College Employment Dispute

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has affirmed lower court decisions upholding a settlement agreement between former Bluefield State College professor Shelia Hallman-Warner and the college's board of governors. Hallman-Warner's petition to invalidate the settlement on fraud grounds was rejected by all three levels of the state court system.

•Hallman-Warner's fraud claims and petition to invalidate settlement were rejected at all court levels

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed denial of Thomas Leftwich's second habeas corpus petition

West Virginia High Court Denies Habeas Appeal in Police Officer Murder

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's denial of habeas corpus relief for Thomas E. Leftwich, who was convicted in 2008 of murdering an undercover Beckley police officer. The high court rejected claims of ineffective habeas counsel and found other grounds barred by res judicata.

•Leftwich was convicted in 2008 of murdering an undercover Beckley police officer and sentenced to life without parole

•West Virginia Supreme Court reviews appeal of 15% permanent partial disability award to Mark Davis

West Virginia Supreme Court Reviews Workers' Compensation Appeal

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is reviewing a workers' compensation dispute between Georgian American Alloys, Inc. and injured worker Mark Davis. The employer challenges an intermediate court decision that upheld a 15% permanent partial disability award, arguing preexisting medical conditions should reduce the compensation.

•Georgian American Alloys argues preexisting conditions, not workplace injury, caused worker's impairment

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed 0% disability rating for coal miner Terry Kyle despite black lung diagnosis

WV Supreme Court Affirms Zero Benefits for Coal Miner's Black Lung Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a decision denying disability benefits to coal miner Terry Kyle, who was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis but awarded a 0% permanent partial disability rating. The court upheld lower court rulings in the workers' compensation case.

•Kyle was diagnosed with mild occupational pneumoconiosis and experienced shortness of breath from work-related dust exposure

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

•Jessie Davis was convicted in 1995 of four counts of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian

WV Supreme Court Denies Sentence Reduction for 30-Year Sexual Assault Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's denial of a sentence reconsideration motion filed by Jessie Davis, who was convicted in 1995 of multiple counts of sexual assault. Davis argued his rehabilitation efforts warranted a sentence reduction from his 35- to 85-year prison term.

•The West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's denial of Davis's Rule 35(b) motion for sentence reconsideration

•West Virginia Supreme Court denied Jeffrey Ray Woods' habeas corpus petition on January 13, 2026

WV Supreme Court Denies Triple Murder Convict's Habeas Appeal

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals denied Jeffrey Ray Woods' habeas corpus petition on January 13, affirming his life sentences for the 2005 triple murder of a married couple and the wife's son. Woods had sought to overturn his convictions and secure a new trial.

•Woods was convicted in 2005 of three counts of first-degree murder involving a married couple and the wife's son

•West Virginia Supreme Court reviews denial of death benefits for miner's widow claiming occupational pneumoconiosis contributed to husband's death

WV Supreme Court Reviews Miner's Death Benefits Denial Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is reviewing a workers' compensation case where the widow of deceased miner Kenneth Adams challenges the denial of death benefits for occupational pneumoconiosis. Tammie Adams argues lower courts improperly rejected her claim that the lung disease contributed to her husband's death.

•Case involves dispute over medical evidence evaluation by Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board

Nov 25, 2025•4 min read

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed termination of mother's parental rights after drug-affected birth

WV Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights Termination in Drug Birth Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights after her newborn tested positive for multiple drugs at birth. The mother had been incarcerated while pregnant and had previously lost parental rights to another child due to substance abuse.

•Mother tested positive for multiple controlled substances while pregnant and incarcerated

Nov 25, 2025•4 min read

•Mother K.F. lost appeal challenging termination of parental rights to children C.F. and I.F.

WV Supreme Court Affirms Termination of Parental Rights in Domestic Violence Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to two children after she failed to complete a second improvement period. The case involved repeated incidents of domestic violence and substance abuse despite previous successful completion of court-ordered programs.

•Parents had previously regained custody in January 2023 after completing improvement periods, but lost children again within 11 months