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Professional Statement:

Stephen R. Brooks focuses his practice in defense litigation with a current concentration in medical negligence defense. He is an experienced litigator with an extensive background in matters pertaining to medical negligence, commercial litigation, general corporate law, and education law. He regularly represents physicians and hospitals in matters involving allegations of deviations from the standard of care resulting in serious injury or death. He has tried cases to verdict in most counties in north-central West Virginia and the northern and eastern panhandles of the State.

Practice Concentrations:

• Medical Negligence Defense Litigation
• Commercial and Banking Litigation
• Education Law
• General Corporate Law

Education:

• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law (1975)
• B.S., West Virginia University School of Pharmacy (1971)

Court Admissions:

• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
• All West Virginia Circuit Courts

Past and Current Professional Involvement:

• West Virginia State Bar
• Law and Medicine Committee
• Continuing Legal Education Committee
• Marion County Bar Association (Past President)
• Monongalia County Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute, Inc.
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (Past Director)
• West Virginia Board of Law Examiners
• Grader of Multi-state Essay Examinations

Teaching & Lecturing:

• Speaker, Professional Education Systems, West Virginia Evidence Workshop, Morgantown, West Virginia (2002, 2003)
• Speaker, Medical Assurance Physician Weight Loss Seminar, Bridgeport, West Virginia (2001, 2002)
• Speaker, West Virginia University Hospitals, Peri-Anesthesia Care Nursing: An Issues Forum III and IV, Morgantown, West Virginia (2001, 2002)
• West Virginia University and Fairmont State College - Frequent guest lecturer, speaker and panelist at various classes for undergraduate and graduate students

Writings & Publications:

• Exalting Form over Substance - Removal Procedures and Multi-Defendant Litigation, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Seminar Notebook, Stephen R. Brooks and Heather K. LaFollette (1997)
• Trial Advocacy in West Virginia, National Business Institute, Inc. seminar presentation (1992)
• Using Adverse Expert's Qualifications Against Him, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Seminar Notebook (1991)
• Pharmaceuticals and the Law, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Seminar Notebook (1984)
• Torts - Invitees, Licensees, Trespassers - A Trend Towards Abolishing Classifications of Entrants, 76 W. Va. Law Review 202 (1974)
• Corporations - A Survey of Pending West Virginia Corporation Act, 77 W. Va. Law Review 50 (1974)
• Managing Editor, Volume 77, West Virginia Law Review

Representative Past & Current Community Involvement:

• Fairmont State College Board of Governors (Past Chairman)
• The Monongahela Valley Bank (Chairman of the Board and Director)
• Fairmont Industrial and Credit Corporation (Past Chairman)
• Fairmont State College Foundation, Inc. (Past Chairman)
• Marion County Chamber of Commerce (Past Chairman)
• Fairmont General Hospital Foundation, Inc. (Past Chairman)
• Board of Governors, Fairmont Field Club (Past President)
• Family Service of Marion and Harrison Counties, Inc. (Past President and Director)
• Rotary Club of Cheat Lake (Past President)
• Masquers Historic Costume Collection, Fairmont State College (Advisory Board)
• Alpha Psi Omega, National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity

Awards & Honors:

• Named 2008 "Best Lawyer" (medical malpractice law - defense), The Best Lawyers in America 2008 (© 2007 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.)
• Volunteer of the Year Award for West Virginia, Southern Industrial Development Council (1995)
• Chairman's Award, Marion County Chamber of Commerce (1993)
• The Rho Chi Society, National Pharmacy Honorary
• Phi Lambda Upsilon, National Chemistry Honorary
• Dean's Mortar and Pestle Award for Excellence in Pharmacy Administration
• Life Member, The National Registry of Who's Who
• Board of Regents Graduate Scholarship for Law

Selected Reported Cases:

• Jones v. West Virginia State Board of Education, 218 W.Va. 52, 622 S.E.2d 289 (2005)
• Arbogast v. Mid-Ohio Valley Medical Corporation, 214 W.Va. 356, 589 S.E.2d 498 (2003)
• Board of Education of County of Taylor v. Board of Education of County of Marion, 213 W.Va. 182, 578 S.E.2d 376 (2003)
• Matheny v. Fairmont General Hospital, Inc., 212 W.Va. 740, 575 S.E.2d 350 (2002)
• Withrow v. West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc., 213 W.Va. 48, 576 S.E.2d 527 (2002)
• CB&T Operations Co., Inc. v. Tax Commissioner of State, 211 W.Va. 198, 564 S.E.2d 408 (2002)