- Adoption
- Child AbuseColleen has taught as an adjunct professor in the legal studies department of the School of Business at Mountain State University and has lectured her peers in child abuse and neglect law and guardian/conservatorship law.
- Criminal DefenseWest Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2011 Doctor of Jurisprudence Honors: CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Criminal Law Honors: Phillip H. Hill Scholarship Honors: J. Adrian & Mabel Harner Endowed Law Scholarship Honors: WV Bar Association Scholarship Honors: Gladys G. Davis Law Scholarship Honors: Martin Brown Memorial Scholarship Honors: John W. Tissue & Lynne B. Klopf Endowed Law Scholarship
- Wrongful DeathSome of our insurance defense cases have involved immense exposure, including claims for catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. In such cases, juries feel great sympathy toward the plaintiff and are often predisposed towards large awards, even when the facts do not establish a causal connection to support liability. In such cases, our attorneys explore a range of options, from confidential settlements to arbitration and aggressive litigation. We develop a sound strategy that takes into account the legal standards and the factors that might affect a jury should the case go to trial.
- AssaultMr. Ruggier thoroughly enjoys the practice of law and the competitive aspect of litigation. He has maintained an extremely successful trial record and has had several significant appellate decisions including the Botkins v. City of St. Albans case, which is the preeminent excessive force decision in the State of West Virginia, and the Flowers v. Max Specialty decision, which upheld the application of the limited assault and battery coverage in an insurance policy, thereby saving his client almost $1,000,000.
- MurderUpon graduation Mr. Gamble began work with the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office. During his time with Kanawha County, Mr. Gamble prosecuted cases in juvenile, magistrate, and circuit court. As an assistant prosecutor, Mr. Gamble gained vast courtroom and jury trial experience, including the successful prosecution of four capital murder cases and numerous other felony jury trials. As a felony prosecutor, Gamble was primarily assigned to the prosecution of cases before the Honorable Judge Irene C. Berger, and now retired Judge Herman Canady. Post 9/11, on behalf of the prosecutor’s office, Mr. Gamble was the assigned Deputy Director of Homeland Security.
- Corporate LawCorporate and business law — While long known as a distinguished insurance defense firm, we are proud to represent clients in other aspects of business law as well. Our attorneys provide counsel on contractual, commercial financing and regulatory issues for businesses of all sizes and types in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. Our work with automotive dealerships has gained national recognition. And our use of alternative dispute resolution complements our litigation defense practice.
- Business DisputesUnder most circumstances, litigation does not take place until a dispute has already occurred and one party has suffered some harm. But sometimes it becomes apparent that ambiguities in a contract, document or statute are going to cause problems in the future if they are not clarified. Contractual rights and duties, property ownership and other factors may need to be ascertained before a transaction or negotiation can go forward. Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe’s attorneys represent insurance companies and other businesses in declaratory judgment actions throughout Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Our lawyers use their ample insurance and business law experience to fight for favorable interpretations of our clients’ rights in the courts and proactively settle ambiguities and disputes.
- Intellectual Property
- Workers CompensationWorkers compensation litigation — Effective workers compensation litigation requires a measured approach that balances cost justification with employee accountability. As experienced workers compensation litigators, we help clients understand the likely costs and potential outcomes, and diligently defend against fraudulent, inflated or overreaching workers compensation claims.
- Wrongful TerminationChip’s practice primarily focuses on representation of governmental enti-ties including, municipalities, in a vast array of civil matters. He has represented municipalities in litigation concerning officer involved shootings, wrongful termination, discrimination, wage payment collection act, and various other legal allegations.
- Employment Contract
- Employment LitigationFollowing graduation from law school and admission to the West Virginia State Bar in 2018, Nathan began work with Miller & Amos, Attorneys at Law, in Charleston, WV as an associate focusing in labor and employment litigation and consultation. He then continued his legal career as the Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Patrick N. Wilson in Marion County, West Virginia from 2019-2022.
- Sexual HarassmentWendy Greve is a member of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC where she enjoys representing elected officials, municipalities, the State of West Virginia, counties, individuals, corporations, and insurance companies in all areas of litigation including contractual claims, product liability, toxic tort, employment actions, and vehicular negligence. In addition to general defense, Ms. Greve has an active practice in defending claims against state and municipal entities including civil rights and constitutional claims as well as sexual harassment and retaliation claims under the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
- Premises LiabilityMatthew R. Whitler is the managing member of the Firm’s office in Martinsburg, which covers all of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. Mr. Whitler’s practice is focused on the defense of individuals, companies, and governmental entities in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including automobile accidents, civil rights cases, premises liability claims, product liability cases, and toxic tort suits. Mr. Whitler also advises and represents insurance companies in coverage issues throughout West Virginia.
- Construction LitigationConstruction law — Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe’s lawyers have an intimate understanding of the intricacies of construction law and the industry. We defend contractors, subcontractors, engineers and architects against liability claims for alleged construction defects.
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesChris has been employed as an attorney with the Charleston office of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC since 2011. He practices insurance defense litigation in areas of state and municipal government, employment, civil rights, products liability, toxic torts, construction, property damage, workers compensation, collections and bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, and digital and cyberspace law. He previously has worked as an Assistant Public Defender and an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and he has worked for Stark County Legal Aid Society, The Housing Advocates, Inc., the West Virginia Attorney General, and Thompson / West Publishing as a WestLaw legal research specialist. Chris is licensed to practice law in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia and he is an active member of Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.
- Property DamageGeneral liability litigation — The attorneys at our firm offer diligent, cost-effective defense for businesses and insurers involved in general liability litigation matters. We defend our clients against premises liability, products liability, director and officer liability, property damage claims and environmental liability claims.
- Employment ImmigrationOmar spent most of his career on the plaintiff’s side of practice prior to joining the firm. He worked at Eves Law Firm in Huntington, where he represented clients on a range of federal and state civil matters including insurance claims, products liability, toxic tort, deliberate intent, wrongful death and civil rights claims. Omar also provided representation and counsel to individuals, families and companies seeking various humanitarian, family and employment-based immigration benefits, and takes pride in continuing that work to this day.
- Personal InjuryEvery injured accident victim deserves their day in court, but many claims lack merit and parties accused of negligence are also entitled to vigorous legal advocacy. At Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC, our firm represents defendants in personal injury lawsuits to guard against unfounded verdicts and excessive damage awards. We have extensive experience in a wide range of personal injury cases throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. Since 1989, our attorneys have earned a solid reputation for client service, meticulous preparation and zealous defense. We offer skillful negotiation during settlement talks, cogent advice on litigation alternatives and innovative strategies to pursue positive results while containing costs.
- Medical MalpracticeThese attorneys have litigated hundreds of medical malpractice cases over the past fifteen years, and have successfully defended doctors, hospitals, emergency medical services, and nursing homes in every circuit court in the State of West Virginia and in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesPremises liability — Homeowners, businesses and governmental agencies are susceptible to various types of premises liability claims, including lawsuits stemming from slip-and-fall accidents, allegedly hidden hazards, dog bites, and falling merchandise. By investigating each matter thoroughly, we determine what potential defenses are available. Plaintiff might not recover damages if the hazard was obvious or if they were responsible for their injury.
- Estate Planning
- Bankruptcy