Experience
AT&T Corp. Deliberate Intent Litigation (Kanawha, County, WV 2008)
Lead counsel in the successful defense of AT&T against 25 consolidated deliberate intent civil actions filed by a unified group of former employees who alleged that they sustained serious injuries as a result of exposure to mold in the company’s Charleston Call Center. Suit also was filed against several co-defendants, including the building’s owners and maintenance contractors. AT&T denied that there was mold present in the building sufficient to establish the existence of a specific unsafe working condition, or that the plaintiffs could establish any of the other requisite statutory elements of their deliberate intent claims. After extensive lay and expert witness discovery, the plaintiff’s dismissed their claims against AT&T in exchange for payment of only nominal sums.
Eastern Associated Coal Corp. v. United Mine Workers of America, District 17, et al., 531 U.S. 57 (2000)
U.S. Supreme Court held that public policy considerations do not require courts to refuse to enforce an arbitration award ordering an employer to reinstate an employee truck driver even though he twice tested positive for drug use. Worked with now-Chief Justice John Roberts, who was retained to do oral argument to the Supreme Court.
Hilton v. Stockhausen, Ciba and American Cyanamid
Represented manufacturer (Stockhausen) of polyacrylamide flocculants in first personal injury case filed in West Virginia in which Plaintiff claimed neurologic injury/polyneuropathy as a result of exposure to residual amounts of acrylamide while working at municipal wastewater treatment facility. This matter resulted in a favorable settlement on behalf of our client.
Secretary of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) v. Mid-America Mining
The U.S. issued a Section 105(c) citation to this Arkansas mining company, claiming that it fired its general manager after he has made formal complaints about the safety of the mine and its practices. This matter was settled on favorable terms to the client.
Decertification Defense
When a miner was facing decertification proceedings from the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training, he turned to Dinsmore. Our client was accused of not properly locking and tagging a piece of equipment, which violates state law. As a result, the state of West Virginia sought permanent decertification of the miner. We conducted on-site research at the mine, interviewing witnesses and examining the company’s safety policies, procedures and records. We determined the alleged violation did not rise to the level of permanent decertification and entered into negotiations with the state of West Virginia. We reached a settlement favorable to our client, allowing him to avoid permanent decertification and return to work.
U.S. v. Coal Company
We represented the Defendant coal company in a federal suit seeking $20 million in penalties for alleged criminal violations of health and safety standards. After a four week trial, the District Court imposed $300,000 in fines. The U.S. appealed and the Sixth Circuit affirmed.
OSHA Matters - Construction Projects
Successfully negotiated multiple claims by OSHA on construction-related accidents.