Hospital Shooting Leaves One Dead in Charleston West Virginia

A woman walked into Charleston Area Medical Center on Saturday and shot her estranged husband in the head.  Her husband, Sammy Lee Stewart, died from the shooting.  The Charleston Gazette covered the shooting here.

Hospital Security Issues

Security issues at hospitals in the United States have been an issue for some time.  The Gazette Article notes that some hospitals use metal detectors and security guards.  It did not state whether CAMC utilizes such measures.  One factor in examining the security at any business is whether any prior crimes have occurred or their are special circumstances that warrant a higher degree of security.

Getting Help for Shooting Victims and Their Families

If you have lost a loved one due to a shooting, contact a crime victim lawyer from Rist Law Offices to discuss whether you could file a civil lawsuit.  Many victims of crimes do not know that a civil lawsuit could be filed as the result of a criminal act.  We handle crime victim cases throughout West Virginia and will take the time to sit down and talk to a crime victim or their family about their legal options following a crime.  There is never a charge to speak to someone about a crime victim case and all information is kept strictly confidential.

To speak to a lawyer about your case, contact us by calling toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

Arrest Made in Fatal Mon. County DUI Case

A 21 year-old was arrested and charged with felony DUI causing death as a result of an April accident that killed Morgantown resident Delores Decker on Route 705.  MSNBC.com carried a story about the incident here.  According to the article, Matthew Veith of Morgantown was charged with the crime.  

Getting Help with a DUI Fatality Case

If you have lost a loved one as the result of a drunk driver, contact Rist Law Offices to discuss your case.  It is extremely important in a fatality case to have an attorney review all applicable insurance policies and to review the facts of the case to identify whether a bar, restaurant, or store that sells alcohol could also be liable for the accident under a theory of law known as dram shop liability.  Additionally, an experienced lawyer investigate whether the drunk driver was working at the time of the accident or whether another party negligently provided alcohol to the drunk driver.  

Rist Law Offices handles all drunk driving fatality cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no fee unless we settle or win your case at trial.  We work on cases throughout the state of West Virginia and there is never a charge to discuss a case.  To speak to a West Virginia drunk driving fatality lawyer about your case, call us toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

Case Results – DUI Injury Case Settles for Policy Limits

In early 2009, Rist Law Offices was hired by the victim of a severe drunk driving case to file a West Virginia drunk driving accident lawsuit.  As the result of the negligence of the drunk driver, our client suffered severe head injuries and had to be transported to a critical care unit in Charleston.  

During the course of the case, we interviewed witnesses, spoke to the investigating officer, obtained court records from the DUI case, and obtained all of the medical records and billings for our client.  Once our client’s medical providers released her from treatment, we worked to settle the case with the drunk driver’s insurance company for her policy limits without filing a lawsuit.

Getting Help with a DUI Injury Case in West Virginia

If you or a loved one need help with a serious car accident case in West Virginia, contact a WV car accident lawyer from Rist Law Offices to discuss your case. We can be reached toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

Fatal Hit and Run Leads to Murder Charge

An Elkview, West Virginia man was charged with murder on Monday due to allegations that he ran over another man in Charleston on early Monday morning.  The Charleston Gazette reported that 19 year old Garrett Z. Pauley was charged with murder in the death of Josh Freeman on Pacific Street and was ordered to jail without bond.  The article is here.

West Virginia Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Rist Law Offices represents the victims of crimes, including hit and run accidents, throughout West Virginia.  In a hit and run accident, one of the main challenges can be identifying the driver.  An experienced crime victim lawyer will hire an investigator to examine the scene of the accident and attempt to identify any potential witnesses to the accident.  This important step can be the difference in finding the at-fault driver.

We represent all crime victims on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no fee until your case is settled or won in court.  For more information, call us toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

DUI Accident Causes Injury to Passengers

Two passengers were injured in an accident that involved alcohol on Friday.  The accident occurred on W. Va. 61 near Kincaid, West Virginia around 3:00 p.m.  The driver apparently lost control, left the roadway, and struck a tree.  The driver was ejected and two passengers were trapped inside.  The Register-Herald carried a story about the accident here.

West Virginia DUI Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, contact a WV DUI Injury Lawyer from Rist Law Offices to discuss your case.  We handle DUI injury and death cases throughout the state of West Virginia.  Our office has experience working with crime victims and their families to identify negligent parties when a DUI causes an injury or death.  As part of our investigation, we will examine whether the negligent driver was provided alcohol by a restaurant, bar, or club when they were obviously intoxicated.  This evidence could lead to a case being filed against the drunk driver and the business that negligently served the driver.

Getting Help With a Case

For more information about drunk driving injury cases or to speak to a lawyer about your case, contact us by calling toll free 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

Man Shot at Charleston Apartment Complex

A man was shot at the Washinton Manor apartment complex on Charleston’s West Side on Wednesday night around 8:30 p.m.  According to reports, the incident occurred within 200 feet of a church where Wednesday night services were being held.  No one has yet been arrested as the result of the shooting WSAZ carried a story here.

West Virginia Shooting Victim Help

When an incident such as a shooting at an apartment complex occurs, a crime victim or their family could potentially file a civil action against the apartment complex for their failure to keep the area safe.  In an apartment complex shooting case, we investigate whether there were prior crimes, a lack of security, complaints from residents about crime, poor lighting, and other issues that could be important to a civil action.  

Getting Help

If you have lost a loved one due to a shooting at an apartment complex, contact a WV Apartment Shooting Lawyer from Rist Law Offices to discuss your case.  We offer free initial consultations to all crime victims and their families and all cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no fee unless the case is settled or won in trial.

For more information, contact us by calling toll free 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

FBI Workers Charged with Spying on Teenage Girls

Two FBI employees have been charged with conspiracy and criminal invasion of privacy as a result of allegations that they used surveillance equipment to spy on teenage girls while they were changing into prom gowns at a charity event in Fairmont, West Virginia.  The charity event, known as the Cinderella Project fashion show, offers prom dresses, shoes and accessories to families with girls who could not otherwise afford them.  Prom dresses sold for as little as $5 at the charity event.  The event was held at the Middletown Mall in Fairmont, West Virginia.  

The Charleston Gazette carried a story about the incident here.  According to the story, the FBI employees who were in a surveillance room positioned a camera on a temporary changing room and zoomed in for at least 90 minutes.  For good reasons, volunteers, donors and participants in the events were noted in the article as being angry about the incident.

These criminal actions could clearly lead to a civil case being filed.  The actions of the workers could also potentially expose their employers to civil liability.  If you or a loved one were working at the charity event, contact a crime victim lawyer from Rist Law Offices to discuss whether a civil case could be pursued.  Call us toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form to have a lawyer contact you.

Rist Law Offices handles the civil side of criminal cases throughout West Virginia.  We work with crime victims, their families, prosecutors, and counsellors in order to insure that a victim’s rights are protected in both the criminal and civil context.  There is no charge to discuss your case with a lawyer and all information is kept strictly confidential.

Charleston Police Report Increase in Gang Activity

The Charleston Gazette reported yesterday that there has been an increase in gang-related activity in Charleston, West Virginia in the past few years.  The story is here.  Many victims of gang-related crimes have nothing to do with gangs and are simply innocent citizens that were at the wrong place at the wrong time.  

Apartment owners and property management companies should take appropriate steps to evict gang members from their apartment complexes in order to make them safe.  Their failure to remedy a gang problem could expose them to civil liability if an innocent person is seriously injured or murdered at the apartment complex.  

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a serious crime, contact Rist Law Offices to discuss your case.  We help the victims of shootings, stabbings, rape, sexual assault and other serious crimes to pursue civil cases against perpetrators and any other party whose negligence led to or failed to prevent the crime.  If an innocent person is murdered, we work with their family to identify any parties who could be held responsible.  Our office handles crime victim cases throughout West Virginia, California, and other states.  

For more information about crime victim cases, contact Rist Law Offices by calling toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form to have a lawyer contact you.

Three Pedestrians Hit by Car in Morgantown

Three pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in Morgantown on Sunday morning around 2:00 a.m.  The accident occurred at the intersection of Fayette and High Streets in downtown Morgantown.  Witnesses identified a dark-colored SUV which they believe ran a red light just before the hit-and-run.  Two of the victims were transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital.  

Anyone with information about the incident should call the Morgantown Police at (304) 284-7522.  

This marks the second time in two months that a pedestrian was the victim of a hit-and-run in Morgantown.  An earlier post located here discussed a DUI hit-and-run accident which killed a man.  

Getting Help with a Hit-and-Run Accident

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, contact a WV injury lawyer from Rist Law Offices to discuss your case.  In any hit-and-run accident the most difficult part of the case is identifying the the perpetrator of the crime.  In many accidents the police are able to find the driver of the vehicle and criminal charges follow.  However, if the driver or vehicle is not located, it will be important to have an experienced lawyer investigate the case.  

Many people do not know that their own underinsured motorist coverage could provide insurance money to help with hospital bills, lost work, or physical therapy charges.  An experienced lawyer will review your own insurance policy in order to provide you with an opinion as to whether a claim should be made.

Rist Law Offices handles all hit-and-run accidents on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no charge until a case is settled or won in court.  We work throughout West Virginia on serious accident cases, including Morgantown, Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Beckley.  To discuss your case with a lawyer, call us toll free at 866-982-5299 or fill out our online case review form and a lawyer will contact you.

Rist Law Offices at Sexual Assualt & Stalking Symposium

On Friday, April 3, 2009, Rist Law Offices will be at the 9th Annual WV Sexual Assault & Stalking Symposium in Charleston, West Virginia.  The event will take place at the Charleston Marriott Town Center.  We will have a table set up so that victim’s advocates, victims, counselors, and anyone else who is interested can get information about the civil side of criminal cases.

Thomas Rist will be at the even for most of the morning and part of the afternoon.  Please feel free to stop by, say hello, and pick up some literature.