James M. BrownMember 304-254-9300 phone 304-255-5519 fax |
Mr. Brown is a graduate of West Virginia University College of Law, where he was a member of the Student Board of Editors of the West Virginia Law Review. Following graduation from law school, he served as a law clerk for The Honorable John A. Field, Jr., Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and has been in the private practice of law in Beckley, West Virginia for over thirty years.
Jim grew up in Hinton, West Virginia and upon finishing his clerkship, he decided to live in the Beckley area of Raleigh County, West Virginia. He is married and has two children and two grandchildren. Jim is an active member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church and weather permitting, loves to play golf and work in yard.
In addition to his profession, his family and church involvement, Jim has also served on the Board of Governors of Concord University, the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Law Trial Advocacy Institute, where he received the William J. Brennan, Jr. Award for service to the teaching of trial law, and currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Resource Center, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and a member of the Board of Advisors of Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.
Because Mr. Brown’s late father was a lawyer, he had the opportunity as a young person to observe the legal profession in operation on a number of occasions, and felt that serving in the legal profession would be a good way for him to help others.
Since Jim started practicing law, he has served clients in civil litigation, real estate, commercial, and estate law.
Current Employment Position(s):
- Member, since 2008
- General Litigation
- Products Liability
- Professional Liability Medical, Legal, and Accounting
- Real Estate and Commercial Law
- 75% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
- West Virginia, 1970
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1973
- U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 1970
- U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia, 1997
- West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1970
J.D. - West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 1967
B.A.
Honors and Awards:
- Robinson v. Cabell Huntington Hospital, Inc., 495 S.E.2d 843 (W. Va. 1997)
- Town of Fayetteville v. Law, 495 S.E.2d 843 (W. Va. 1997)
- Cole v. Fairchild, 482 S.E.2d 913 (W. Va. 1996)
- Shirkey v. Mackey, 399 S.E.2d 868 (W. Va. 1990)
- City of Beckley v. Price, 264 S.E.2d 468 (W. Va. 1980)
- State Farm Insurance Company
- Philadelphia Insurance Company
- Evanston Insurance Company
- Pennsylvania Lumbermans Mutual Insurance Company
- Sedgwick Claims Management & Services
- Glade Springs Resort, LLC
- Caterpillar, Inc.
Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Voire Dire, Defense Trial Academy, 2007
- Univesity of Virginia College of Law Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1986 – 2006
- Civil Tort Defense, 1999
- Evaluating Non-economic Damages, 1999
- Bad Faith Seminar, 1995
- Use of Expert Witnesses, 1993
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Bar Association
Member
- Defense Research Institute
Member
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates
Member and Director
- West Virginia State Bar
Member
- West Virginia Bar Association
Member
- Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
Member, Past President
- Raleigh County Bar Association
Member, Past President
Past Employment Positions:
- The Honorable John H. Field, Jr., Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Clerk, 1970 – 1971
- Bowers, File, Hodson & Payne, Associate, 1971 – 1973
- File, Payne, Scherer & Brown, Partner, 1973 – 1993
- Brown & Levicoff, Member, 1994 – 2008
Pro Bono Activities:
- Board of Governors, Concord University, Past President
- Board of Directors, Women’s Resource Center
- Board of Advisors, Beckley Appalachian Hospital