John R. Fowler
John R. Fowler is enjoying a distinguished and productive career in defending corporations and insurance companies doing business in the litigious state of West Virginia. After returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam as a highly decorated Infantry Captain, Mr. Fowler spent three years with a prominent plaintiff firm and a well-known defense firm.
During his practice in the 1970s and '80s, Mr. Fowler concentrated his efforts on defending the all-terrain-vehicle industry and challenging the populist court on definitive insurance issues.
Mr. Fowler was appointed in 1975 by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals as a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute vote fraud allegations in Logan County, West Virginia. He obtained convictions of key members of the controlling political group and helped establish election law procedures that were later made law by the Legislature.
He merged his rapidly growing firm with one of the large law firms in West Virginia in 1986 and rose to be a managing partner.
In his private practice, he has served the Bar by representing the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigates allegations against sitting judges; and is currently Hearing Examiner for the WV Board of Bar Examiners. He has served the bar as a speaker in his specialties at the West Virginia University College of Law and elsewhere.
Areas of Practice
- 70% Insurance Defense
- 10% Product Liability Defense
- 20% Construction Injury Defense
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- West Virginia, 1967
- Virginia, 1991
- U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 1967
- U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia, 1967
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1988
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1974
Education
- West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia
- J.D. - 1967
- West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
- B.A. - 1964
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Political Science and History
Published Works
- Jenks Act and Beyond, WVU Criminal Law Reporter, First, 1967
Representative Cases
- Bonnett v. Summit Hotel Properties, LLC, 2007 WL 4510302 (S.D. W.Va. 2007)
- Carr v. Alford, 811 F.2d 1504, 1987 WL 35852 (W.Va. 1987)
- Clark v. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., 200 W.Va. 763, 490 S.E.2d 852 (1997)
- Collins v. Meadowbrook Mall Co., 2008 WL 5120732 (N.D.W.Va. 2008)
- Cook v. Volkswagen of America, Inc., 101 F.R.D. 92, 38 Fed.R.Serv. 2d 1580 (S.D. W.Va. 1984)
- Cottril v. Tucker, 2004 WL 3382843 (S.D.W.Va. 2004)
- CSX Transp., Inc. v. Board of Public Works of State of W.Va., 312 F. Supp.2d 839 (S.D.W.Va 2004)
- Fortner v. Fortner, 168 W.Va. 70, 282 S.E.2d 48 (W.Va. 1981)
- Fortner v. Fortner, 171 W. Va. 441, 299 S.E.2d 872 (1983)
- Greene v. Carolina Freight Carriers, 663 F.Supp. 112 (S.D. W. Va.)
- Hamilton v. Harper, 185 W.Va. 51, 404 S.E. 2d 540 (W.Va. 1991)
- Harmon v. Elkay Mining Co., 201 W.Va. 745, 500 S.E.2d 860 (1997)
- Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 261 F. Supp. 2d 546 (S.D.W.Va. 2003)
- In re: Brown, 164 W.Va 234, 262 S.E.2d 444, 166. W.Va. 226 (1980)
- In re: Flood Litigation, 216 W.Va. 534, 607 S.E.2d 863 (W.Va. 2004)
- Judicial Inquiry Comm'n of West Virginia v. McGraw, 165 W.Va. 704, 271 S.E.2d 344, 171 W.Va. 441 (1983)
- McCormick v. West Virginia Dept. of Public Safety, 202 W.Va. 189, 503 S.E. 2d 502 (W.Va. 1998)
- Michael v. Appalachian Heating, LLC, S.E.2d, 1020 WL 2346274 (W.Va. 2010)
- Mills v. Aetna Bldg. Maintenance, Inc., 2009 WL 3063450 (S.D.W.Va. 2009)
- Preiser Scientific, Inc. of Ohio v. Piedmont Aviation, Inc., 432 F.2d 1002 (4th Cir. 1970)
- Ruehl v. John Alden Life Ins. Co., 818 F. Supp. 169 (S.D. W.Va. 1993)
- Sayer Bros., Ins. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 150 F.Supp.2d 907 (S.D. W.Va. 2001)
- Shamblin v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 175 W.Va. 337, 332 S.E.2d 639, 183 W.Va. 585 (1990)
- Shreve v. Warren Assoc., Inc., 177 W.Va. 600, 355 S.E.2d 389 (W.Va. 1987)
- Shreve v. Warren Assoc., Inc., 183 W. Va. 585, 396 S.E.2d 766 (1990)
- State Auto Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Edgewater Estates, Inc., 2010 WL 1780253 (S.D. W.Va. 2010)
- State Auto Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Rhodes, 2009 WL 2392100 (S.D.W.Va. 2009)
- State ex rel. Atkins v. Burnside, 212 W.Va. 74, 569 S.E.2d 150 (W.Va. 2002)
- State ex rel. Davidson v. Hoke, 207 W.Va. 332, 532 S.E.2d 50 (2000)
- State ex rel. Preissler v. Dougherty, 166 W.Va. 240, 273 S.E.2d 574 (W.Va. 1980)
- State ex rel. West Virginia Deputy Sheriff's Ass'n. Inc. v. Sims, 204 W.Va. 442, 513 S.E.2d 669 (W.Va. 1998)
- State ex rel. West Virginia Deputy Sheriff's Ass'n. Inc. v. Sims, 203 F.3d 825 (4th Cir. 2000)
- State ex rel. Whitman v. Fox, 160 W.Va. 633, 236 S.E.2d 565 (1977)
- Thompson v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 1991 WL 476220 (S.D.W.Va. 1991)
- United Transp. Union v. Perdue, 2008 WL 4527177 (S.D.W.Va. 2008)
- Weiford v. Thiebaud, 422 F.2d 400 (4th Cir. 1970)
- Wilt v. State Auto. Mut. Ins. Co., 203 W.Va. 165, 506 S.E. 2d. 608, 203 F.3d. 825 (4th Cir. 1998)
Representative Clients
- The Travelers Companies
- Piney Land Company
- McCreery Coal Land Co.
- State Auto Insurance Companies
- White Oak Group
- Cranberry Hardwoods
- Northland Insurance Company
- American Claims Service, Inc.
- Markel Southwest Underwriters, Inc.
- Scottsdale Insurance Company
- Cafaro Company
- Chartis Insurance Company
References
- Bette A. Damron, The Travelers Companies
- Susan A. Hamrick, The Travelers Companies
Classes/Seminars
- Law Practice Seminars, College of Law, West Virginia University, 1970 - 1973
- CLE Seminars on Construction Law, National Business Institute, 2003 - 2007
Professional Associations and Memberships
- The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- Phi Delta Phi, The International Legal Fraternity
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Superlawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell A Rating
- Phi Kappa Psi
Past Employment Positions
- United States Army, Infantry Captain; Bronze Star Medal for Valor, 1969; Air Medal; Army Commendation Medals, 1966 - 1969
- Large Law Firm, General Practice, Managing Partner, 1986 - 2004
Fraternities/Sororities
- Phi Delta Phi
