Attorney Profiles

Attorney Biographies

Kimberly M. Bandy joined the firm in 2008 as an associate in the Charleston office. Ms. Bandy's practice focuses primarily on insurance-related matters.

Ms. Bandy is a graduate of West Virginia University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Political Science. While at West Virginia University Ms. Bandy was active in the Debate and Forensics Society.

Ms. Bandy attended Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia. While at Washington and Lee, Ms. Bandy was a student case worker in the Black Lung Legal Practice Clinic where she assisted in representing claimants seeking federal black lung benefits before the United States Department of Labor. Ms. Bandy was also assigned to assist the Honorable Michael Irvine and the Honorable Malfourd W. ABo@ Trumbo, Judges of the 25th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, through her participation in the School of Laws Judicial Clerkship Program.

Upon graduation from Washington and Lee University School of Law, Ms. Bandy served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable James P. Mazzone, Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.

Ms. Bandy is originally from Parkersburg, West Virginia. She now resides in Charleston.

Mark W. Browning joined the firm in September 1985 and became a member in January 1992. Mark is a native of Dayton, Ohio, received his B.A. Degree in political science with high distinction from the University of Kentucky in 1980, and his J.D. Degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1984. Mark was admitted into Phi Beta Kappa in 1979, and also received the Amry S. Vandenbosch Award in recognition of the outstanding graduating senior in political science at the University of Kentucky. Mark has also completed 18 hours toward a Master's Degree in Diplomacy and International Commerce from the Patterson School of Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky. His practice has focused on general insurance defense matters in product liability, complex and mass tort litigation, environmental law, and medical and professional malpractice.

Mark has over twenty (20) years of experience in the handling of cases on behalf of both corporations and individuals at both the trial and appellate levels. He has been active in the community and on behalf of the bar.

Mark served as the President of the Kanawha Bar Association from 1995 to 1996. He has served on various standing and special committees of the West Virginia State Bar, including a select committee established by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on lawyer civility. Mark was a member of the Board of Governors of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia from 1996-2006, and was the State Representative for West Virginia to the Defense Research Institute (DRI) from 2000-2004.

In his spare time, Mark is an avid reader of books focusing on American history, and participates in the annual meetings of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Winston Churchill Centre.

Dwayne Cyrus joined the firm in May 1999 and became a member in January 2001. His practice is focused in the areas of insurance coverage, medical negligence and tort defense litigation.

Mr. Cyrus has over 13 years experience in handling insurance defense cases and claims including insurance coverage issues at both the trial and appellate levels. He served previously as Claims Legal Counsel for Nationwide Insurance Company for the southern region of West Virginia where he supervised cases involving issues of insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. Mr. Cyrus has served as lecturer for insurance claims personnel and agents on issues involved in the claims-handling process including compliance with the Unfair Claims Practices Act.

Dwayne has three sons and is married to Lou Ann Cyrus, also a member of the firm. He is an avid runner.

Lou Ann S. Cyrus joined the firm in June, 1998 and became a member in January, 2002. Her practice is concentrated in general insurance defense, and includes insurance coverage, medical negligence, tort defense litigation, commercial general liability and professional negligence (including attorney negligence and accounting negligence). She has also developed a practice in farm litigation (including equine law), cemetery and funeral home law, and manufactured housing law.

Ms. Cyrus has well over 10 years experience in handling insurance defense cases at both the trial and appellate levels. She has successfully defended many auto negligence cases throughout West Virginia. She frequently counsels insurance claims adjusters about how to evaluate and handle claims prior to litigation. Ms. Cyrus has also served as a lecturer for insurance claims personnel on issues involved in the claims handling process, including compliance with the Unfair Claims Practices Act.

Ms. Cyrus has one son and two step-sons and is married to Dwayne Cyrus, also a member of the firm.

Roberta F. Green joined the firm in May 1994 and became a member in 1999. Her practice has come to focus on Insurance Defense, Medical and Professional Malpractice, Product Liability/Personal Injury, State and Municipal Government Liability, Administrative and Regulatory Law, Labor and Employment Law, Environmental Law, Civil Rights (including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)), Constitutional Law, and Appellate Practice. Her clients include physicians, ambulance services, volunteer fire departments, and corporations, among other entities and individuals. Throughout her years of practice, Ms. Green has handled litigations in these areas before administrative tribunals and in state and federal courts throughout the state and region. Ms. Green has considerable experience with appellate work, both before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Roberta was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and previously served as an award-winning faculty member at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Virginia Tech (VPI&SU) in Blacksburg, Virginia, where her areas of research and publication included film and feminist theory. She and her husband, chemical engineer Hal Foss, enjoy travel and working on their golf games together.

John D. Hoblitzell joined the firm in August of 2003. John was admitted to the Bar in the fall of 2003. His practice is concentrated in general insurance defense, dealing primarily with auto negligence cases and deliberate intent cases. John received his B.A. in History from Trinity College in 2000. He focused his studies primarily on the labor movement in the early to mid-twentieth century in the coalfields of Southern West Virginia. John enjoys the outdoors. He is an avid skier and golfer, and also enjoys cycling and fly fishing, though he very rarely catches a fish.

Elizabeth S. Lawton originally joined the firm in 1993. She left the firm in 1997 to accept an appointment by Governor Cecil Underwood as Commissioner, West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services. As Commissioner, Mrs. Lawton had responsibility for administration of the Medicaid program in West Virginia. In that capacity, she regularly interacted with federal and state government officials, lawmakers and healthcare providers, and was instrumental in the development and implementation of healthcare policy in West Virginia. Mrs. Lawton also is a Registered Nurse with more than twenty years' experience.

Mrs. Lawton rejoined the firm as a member in 2001. She primarily practices in the areas of healthcare law, medical and product liability defense, and nursing home malpractice defense. Mrs. Lawton is uniquely qualified to practice in these areas, given her twenty years' experience as a Registered Nurse and her leadership role in the West Virginia Medicaid program.

Heather B. Osborn joined the firm in 2005. Ms. Lord is an alumnus of Marshall University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, with an emphasis in Public Relations. At Marshall, Ms. Lord was a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and wrote for the student newspaper, The Parthenon.

After graduating from Marshall University, Ms. Lord moved to Dayton, Ohio, where she attended the University of Dayton School of Law. During her first year of law school, Ms. Lord was named champion of The Walter H. Rice Moot Court Competition at the University of Dayton.

While in law school, Ms. Lord also served as a law clinic intern, which enabled her to represent indigent clients in matters involving domestic violence, landlord-tenant disputes, family law and juvenile criminal proceedings.

Ms. Lord's legal career has focused primarily upon insurance-related matters, including the representation of insurance agencies and individual agents in professional liability claims and the rendering of coverage opinions for her clients. Currently, her practice is focused on insurance defense, product liability/personal injury claims and professional malpractice litigation.

Ms. Lord resides in South Charleston with her several cats and dogs.

John McCuskey began his association with the firm in 1999 following his service as the 70th Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

Born and educated in Clarksburg, West Virginia, John's career in law was preceded by his election to the West Virginia State Legislature while still a law student at West Virginia University College of Law in 1972. Over the next ten years, until 1982, John combined a family law practice with his career in public service in his native Harrison County, West Virginia. In these endeavors he gained experience and expertise in the formulation of legislation and governmental policy as well as all areas of commercial and individual litigation.

After serving as West Virginia's Commissioner of Finance and Administration from 1985-1988, John Became a partner in the firm of Campbell Woods Bagley in Charleston. For 10 years, his trial practice concentrated on product liability and insurance defense in which he successfully represented clients in federal and state court trials throughout West Virginia.

Appointed by Governor Cecil Underwood to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in 1998, John authored 10 majority opinions and numerous concurrences and dissents during his year on the state's highest court.

As a managing partner and founder of the firm of Shuman, McCuskey & Slicer, PLLC, John has continued his active litigation practice and serves as counsel for various commercial enterprises and as an arbitrator and expert witness in business, insurance, and professional liability cases.

John and his wife of 27 years, Anne T. McCuskey, have two children, Elizabeth and J.B., both of whom are planning careers in law.

Karen Tracy McElhinny became associated with the firm in 1997, and was elected as a member in January of 2003. Ms.McElhinny attended the University of Virginia where she had a double major in English and Sociology. She received a B.A. with distinction (the equivalent of cum laude) from the University of Virginia in 1994. Ms. McElhinny continued her education at the Washington & Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia where she participated in Moot Court and the Alderson Legal Assistance Clinic. At Washington & Lee, Ms. McElhinny was chosen by the faculty to receive the award given for having made the most significant student contribution to the Alderson Legal Clinic, and was selected to serve on the Executive Moot Court Board. While on the Executive Moot Court Board, Ms. McElhinny managed the Davis Moot Court Competition.

Ms. McElhinny has made her home in Charleston, West Virginia since 1997. She is married and has two daughters. Ms. McElhinny has volunteered her time at the mentoring program at Glenwood Elementary and the tutoring program at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club. Ms. McElhinny also volunteers with the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program where she provides pro bono representation to victims of domestic violence.

Margaret Miner joined the firm in 2007. Ms. Miner is an alumnus of West Virginia University where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After graduating from West Virginia University, Ms. Miner attended West Virginia University College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Miner participated in the Clinical Law Program where she learned invaluable experience representing indigent clients in matters involving family law, bankruptcy, and social security. Ms. Miner graduated Order of the Coif from West Virginia University College of Law.

Currently her practice focuses on insurance defense litigation.

Christopher D. Negley became associated with the firm in 2005 following a lengthy stint practicing law on behalf of the state of West Virginia. This included time spent with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Office of the Attorney General.

As a result, Chris has developed an extensive practice history in the areas of workers' compensation, bankruptcy and regulatory law issues involving surface mining (state and federal), the Clean Water Act (state and federal), and Oil and Gas (state).

He has represented his clients before the Supreme Court of Appeals for West Virginia, both Federal district courts in West Virginia, many of the State Circuit Courts, the state Surface Mine and Environmental Quality Boards, the Office of Judges, the Worker's Compensation Board of Review and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia.

Chris graduated from the West Virginia University School of Law in 1992. He had previously obtained a Bachelor in the Science of Journalism from West Virginia University in 1988.

He and his wife reside in Cross Lanes with their two children.

Christopher J. Sears is a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia. As an undergraduate in the West Virginia University system, Mr. Sears served as a representative in the Student Administration at the Parkersburg branch and was also a member of W.V.U.' s Bureau of Finance in Morgantown. For his work in Parkersburg, he was awarded the National Collegiate Student Government Award. While at W.V.U. Mr. Sears was a member of the debate team and represented the University in numerous competitions at colleges and universities on the East coast. He was also a Resident Assistant, was named to the National Dean's List, was quite active with the Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., and was the President of the largest student political organization at West Virginia University. During this time period, Mr. Sears also worked at the United States Department of Treasury Bureau of the Public Debt.

After graduating with a Bachelors in Political Science, Mr. Sears worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for a United States Senator. He then moved to Columbus, Ohio where he assisted with the re-election campaign of the Governor of Ohio. Upon returning to West Virginia, Mr. Sears then served as a staff member for the West Virginia House of Delegates.

While in graduate school working on his M.B.A., Mr. Sears worked for W.V.U.'s Vice President of Housing and Residence Life where he maintained an electronic information system for the payroll personnel division covering thousands of employees and a payroll of millions of dollars. He was then specially assigned to W.V. U.'s Expert Business Office where he assisted in the analysis of 13 departments with multi-million dollar budgets and helped develop cost saving strategies through reorganization, downsizing, and attrition. Also during graduate school, Mr. Sears served as a graduate research assistant where he conducted survey research pertaining to biomass fuel efficiency that assessed needs, problems, and fuel usage to Eastern U.S. companies. This research benefited the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), a division of the United States Department of Energy.

While in law school, Mr. Sears served as the Managing Editor of the West Virginia Law Review, was a Finalist in the West Virginia Lugar Invitational (trial advocacy competition), was a Public Service Volunteer, and had an article published in Volume 100 of the West Virginia Law Review. He also was a substitute teacher in the Wood County School system during his third year of law school.

Mr. Sears has been practicing law with the firm since 1999. He uses his rich and diverse life experiences in analyzing legal problems, furthering the interests of his client, and dealing with the many personalities encountered in litigation and the practice of law. He has developed a wide practice area including the defense of cases involving products liability, personal injury, deliberate intent, workers' compensation, labor and employment, professional malpractice, and bank operations and lender liability. He also provides services in the areas of estate planning, appellate advocacy, insurance coverage opinions, and presentations on legal issues that arise in special education and school law.

Mr. Sears and his wife, Melissa, have two children and attend Morris Memorial United Methodist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.

Founding member David L. Shuman is one of West Virginia's most highly regarded medical malpractice defense attorneys. Mr. Shuman has defended West Virginia physicians successfully for more than thirty years. Mr. Shuman regularly speaks to physicians groups regarding medical malpractice issues and legislation which affects physicians. His practice includes defending physicians in malpractice cases and defending medical product liability cases. His practice varies from individual physicians to large physician groups who have been entangled with mass tort litigation concerning products such as breast implants, FenPhen, Rezulin, and OxyContin.

William R. Slicer was born April 28, 1964, in Charleston, West Virginia. He began practicing law with David Shuman in 1989 after graduating from Wake Forest University School of Law. He became a partner in January 1994. Mr. Slicer gained a wealth of knowledge about the insurance industry from his father, William T. Slicer (Pete), a well respected owner of a local insurance agency, recently purchased by Branch Banking & Trust, BB&T.

Mr. Slicer is a "Friend of Coal" and has successfully represented coal companies in mining and contractual matters since 1990. This natural interest and ability in coal law is attributable, in part, to his late grandfather, Robert G. Kelly, a nationally recognized coal industry lawyer and founder of Jackson Kelly Holt & O'Farrell where Mr. Slicer worked as a summer associate. Mr. Slicer's experience in this area of the law includes defending claims involving dust and noise nuisances, blasting damage, coal haulage, flooding, deliberate intent injuries, unsafe work place injuries, contractual and workers' compensation claims. He is hired directly by both coal companies and their insurers.

In addition to coal industry clients, Mr. Slicer has successfully represented law enforcement officers in civil rights claims, manufacturers in product liability claims, large retailers, satellite television companies, construction companies and insurance companies.

As a managing member and co-founder of Shuman McCuskey & Slicer, PLLC, he strives to continue offering superior representation to the clients of the firm. Maintaining a highly organized law firm through proper training of assistants and current technology provides the foundation from which the firm's lawyers provide this superior representation.

Mr. Slicer and his wife, Virginia, have two children and are members of the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston.

Jason Eric Wandling joined the firm in 2005 after a long stint in Morgantown, where he attended West Virginia University, majoring in literature and philosophy. He graduated cum laude in 1999 and continued his studies the same year at the College of Law.

While in law school, Jason served as Vice President of the Public Interest Advocates and worked closely with Professor Charles DiSalvo to ensure adequate funding for summer internships providing legal services to indigent West Virginians.

Jason was selected as the Best Oral Advocate and overall Runner‑Up during the 2001 Baker Moot Court Competition. He also served on the 2001 West Virginia University College of Law National Moot Court team. Upon graduation, he was admitted to the Order of the Barristers.

Since passing the Oregon and West Virginia bar examinations, Jason has worked primarily in mass tort litigation. Currently, his practice is focused on insurance defense in suits alleging harmful workplace exposures and municipal liability. He is also admitted to practice in Washington, D.C.

In his spare time, Jason reads books given to him by friends and plays drums and soccer.