Benjamin T. Hughes

Benjamin T. Hughes was born in Pensacola, Florida and grew up in Ripley, West Virginia.  He attended WVU, receiving a B.A. in 1985 and his J.D. in 1989.  After working briefly in Charleston upon graduation, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to practice law at the defense litigation firm of Chambers, Mabry, McClelland and Brooks from 1990 to 1996.  Ben participated in over a dozen jury trials in Georgia as sole lead counsel, in addition to participating in several other trials as second chair counsel.  He has argued several cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals.

In 1997, Ben moved back to West Virginia and joined the law firm of Pullin, Knopf, Fowler and Flanagan.  After a brief two year stint with the Staff Counsel office of the St. Paul Insurance Company, Ben returned to PF&F in 2002, where he has practiced ever since.  He was named a Member of the firm in 2003.  His trial experience has continued to grow over the years.  He has now taken over 30 jury trials to verdict over his career.  He also has experience as a mediator.

Ben resides in Charleston with his wife, Kara, and three children, Dylan, Eliana, and Rocco.  He is active in his church, Elizabeth Memorial United Methodist Church, and is a bell ringer for the Salvation Army during the holidays.  His other charitable activities include Habitat for Humanity, the National MS Society, and the Gabriel Project.  His hobbies and interests include WVU sports, skiing, hunting, fishing, and golf.

Current Employment Position(s):

Member

Areas of Practice:

Personal Injury

Premises Liability

General Insurance Defense

Products Liability

State Government Law

Municipal Law

Insurance Bad Faith Litigation

Litigation Percentage:

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

Georgia, 1990

West Virginia, 1997

U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1991

U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 1997

U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia, 2003

U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1997

Education:

West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1989
J.D.

West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1985
B.A.
Major:  History

Representative Cases:

Chadbrooke Ins. Co. v. Fowler, 426 S.E.2d 578 (Ga. 1992)

Southern v. Sphere-Drake Ins. Co., 486 S.E.2d 674 (Ga. 1997)

Strickland v. Brown, 487 S.E.2d 105 (Ga. 1997)

Tambone v. Indiana Ins. Co., 493 S.E.2d 578 (Ga. 1997)

State ex rel. Ward v. Hill, 489 S.E.2d 578 (W.Va. 1997)

Modular Building Consultants v. Poerio, Inc., 774 S.E.2d 555 (W. Va. 2015)

Representative Clients:

Travelers Insurance Company

Erie Property and Casualty Company

Westfield Insurance Company

AIG Claim Services, Inc.

Statewide Services, Inc.

Tri-State Pipeline, Inc.

Classes/Seminars Taught:

West Virginia Bad Faith, 2004

How to Take a Deposition, 2006

Professional Associations and Memberships:

West Virginia State Bar

State Bar of Georgia

Past Employment Positions:

St. Paul Insurance Co., Staff Counsel, 2000 – 2002

Pullin, Knopf, Fowler & Flanagan, Associate, 1997 – 2000

Chambers, Mabry, McClelland & Brooks (Atlanta, GA), Associate, 1990 – 1996

Goodwin & Goodwin, Charleston, West Virginia, Associate, 1989 – 1990

Pro Bono Activities:

Gabriel Project

Salvation Army

National MS Society

Habitat For Humanity

Birth Information:

August 25, 1963, Pensacola, Florida, United States of America