You may have seen black lung disease, also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, depicted in movies set in the Appalachia. The condition is most common in coal miners who inhale coal dust, which can damage their lungs. But you may not realize that you don’t have to be a traditional mining operation to be subject to black lung claims. Consultation with an experienced black lung lawyer is critical to determining your business’s risk for certain, but this article summarizes when a business’s workers may be entitled to claim black lung benefits even if not working for traditional mining businesses.

In 2020, the number of compensation claims for black lung in West Virginia (WV) was topped only by Pennsylvania, with Kentucky a close third. Employers in any state with coal production must be prepared to navigate the black lung claim process to protect against inappropriate or fraudulent claims. While the process does not appear to be complicated at first blush, the failure to comply with strict evidentiary and disclosure requirements and deadlines can be fatal to a company’s defense. Working with qualified black lung defense attorneys is critical to protecting a coal operator or insurer.

Commercial real estate matters are complex and involve significant investment of time and money. These deals generally have impacts beyond the issue immediately at hand, and the ripple effects of a problem can be far-reaching for West Virginia (WV) businesses and individuals involved in commercial transactions. To facilitate the transaction and protect the investment, individuals and businesses dealing with commercial real estate disputes in WV need the reliable legal counsel and representation of an experienced WV commercial real estate attorney.

When someone passes away, it may seem like property and finances follow an immediate flow directly to the surviving relatives as inheritance. There are several steps, however, as part of the Ohio probate timeline that must take place before receiving inheritance. This process can be wrapped up quickly or may take place over a year or more depending on the complexity of the estate. The easiest way to navigate the probate process is to find a southern Ohio probate attorney who is familiar with the timelines and can help guide you through the processes as quickly as possible.

Few subjects seem to generate as many questions as West Virginia’s statutory requirement stating that workers’ compensation claims must be filed on the state-approved form, known as WV Form OIC-WC-1, or the “WC-1” for short. The purpose of this article is to update you regarding case law trends pertaining to the WV Form WC-1 requirement.