Robert C. James focuses his practice on litigation. He is involved in litigating natural gas industry matters, from representing industry vendors on well site accident claims, to insurance disputes related to Master Service Agreements. He also defends various professionals through their Errors and Omissions (E&O) coverage. This encompasses representing, among others, insurance agents, landmen, brokers, realtors, appraisers, physicians, various healthcare providers, lawyers, and accountants. His experience includes handling complex 412i plan litigation, defending alleged inflated appraisals and predatory loans, and fighting medical malpractice cases lodged against our healthcare professionals.
In addition to representing clients through E&O coverage, he works at defending businesses against deliberate intent actions, accidents caused by employees, Title VII matters, etc. He has represented a diversified client base ranging from individual professionals, to family-owned businesses, to Fortune 500 companies like Lowes and CVS.
He holds a law license in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. He regularly represents clients before state and federal courts in southeastern Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania, and throughout West Virginia. He handles all phases of civil litigation from pre-litigation through mediation, hearings, trials, and appeals.
Practice Areas:
- Professional Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Labor/Employment/Deliberate Intent
- Mass Tort and Asbestos
- Natural Gas Industry Litigation
Education:
- J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1997)
- B.A., University of Mount Union (formerly College) (1994)
Court Admissions:
- Ohio Supreme Court (and all State Courts)
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court (and all the Commonwealth Courts)
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals (and all the State Courts)
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
Representative Legal Work:
- Represented an appraiser on the basis of a jurisdictional/venue challenge
- Represented an employer in a labor/law and defamation case in West Virginia
- Co-chaired a medical malpractice case defending a gastroenterologist
- Represented a restaurant in a food poisoning case
- Represented an architect in a commercial construction litigation claim
- Represented a lumber company in a premise liability case
- Represented a lawyer in a legal malpractice case
- Represented a convenient store/gas station chain in a premise liability case
- Represented real estate agents in radon litigation
Reported Cases:
- Mitchell v. ALDI Inc., 2002 WL 31899888, (Pa.Com.Pl.Jul 22, 2002)
- Macek v. Jones, 222 W.Va. 702, 671 S.E.2d 707 (2008)
Professional Involvement:
- Member of HospitalityLawyer.com
- West Virginia Bar Association
- Ohio County (WV) Bar Association
- Belmont County Bar Association (on Committee for Responding to Public Criticism of Judges)
Community Involvement:
- Boy Scouts of America, Ohio River Valley Counsel (Wheeling, WV); Board Member; Executive Committee Member; VP - Administration;
- Wheeling Rotary Club – Officer 2008- present; President 2011 - present