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 [...]

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WV Trooper Accused of Rape Resigns

The Charleston Gazette reported today that a West Virginia State Trooper accused of rape has resigned.  The article is here.  The Gazette reported that the woman involved alleges she was drunk and forced to have sex with the Trooper last month after he followed her to a friend’s house.   If you or a loved [...]

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The Number One Client Complaint About Attorneys

MY ATTORNEY DOES NOT RETURN MY CALLS! No matter where I have practiced law or what types of cases I have handled as a lawyer, the one thing that I hear over and over that upsets clients the most is when their attorney does not return their calls.   So how does Rist Law Offices [...]

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New DUI Laws in West Virginia

The Register-Herald reported yesterday that MADD expects the new DUI law in West Virginia to save more lives.  The story is here.  The new law definitely reflect a stronger stance against drivers who take other lives into their own hands.   Two highlights of the new law are: A new offense of aggravated DUI was [...]

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Another Montgomery Police Brutality Suit Filed

The Register-Herald reported today that another police brutality lawsuit has been filed.  The story is here.  The article reports that this lawsuit was filed by a black man who accuses a pair of Montgomery Police officers of race-based police brutality. If you or a loved one have been the victim of police brutality in West [...]

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WV DUI Accident Lawyer

One of the more common crime victim cases that we are asked about is when a drunk driver causes an accident in West Virginia.  Everyone knows how devastating a drunk driving accident can be.  Reports of drivers going the wrong way on a highway or exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph or more are [...]

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Accusations of Racially Charged Beating in Montgomery, WV

The Charleston Gazette reported yesterday that one Montgomery, West Virginia police officer was fired and another was placed on administrative leave Saturday after the alleged beating of a black man on Friday.  The story is here.  The story reports that two Montgomery officers allegedly hit a black victim over the head repeatedly with a blackjack, [...]

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How to choose the right West Virginia attorney for your case

Finding a good attorney can be a challenge.  The yellow pages are littered with attorneys claiming to be aggressive, professional, etc., etc.  So how do you cut through all of the advertising and find a good attorney?  Here are some tips from an attorney’s perspective. 1.  Choose an attorney that works solely in the area [...]

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Crime Victim Help Roadmap – Part IV

Step 4 – The Lawsuit Process The following is a brief breakdown of the process of a lawsuit.  This is only a general overview of a lawsuit.  There are many, many more issues that could occur during a lawsuit so it is important to discuss your case with an experienced West Virginia attorney. A.  Filing [...]

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Crime Victim Help Roadmap Part I

One of the first questions we hear from new clients is, “how long does a lawsuit take?”  The following is the first in a series of posts written about the process of a West Virginia crime victim filing a lawsuit. Step 1 – Meet with an Attorney The first meeting with an attorney can be [...]

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