Christopher D Negley, Attorney

Christopher D. Negley became associated with the firm in 2005 following a lengthy stint practicing law on behalf of the state of West Virginia. This included time spent with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Office of the Attorney General.

As a result, Chris has developed an extensive practice history in the areas of workers' compensation, bankruptcy and regulatory law issues involving surface mining (state and federal), the Clean Water Act (state and federal), and Oil and Gas (state).

He has represented his clients before the Supreme Court of Appeals for West Virginia, both Federal district courts in West Virginia, many of the State Circuit Courts, the state Surface Mine and Environmental Quality Boards, the Office of Judges, the Worker's Compensation Board of Review and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia.

Chris graduated from the West Virginia University School of Law in 1992. He had previously obtained a Bachelor in the Science of Journalism from West Virginia University in 1988.

He and his wife reside in Cross Lanes with their two children.

Representative Cases:

Federal:

In re: T & T Fuels, Inc., 55 Fed. Appx. 121 (2003) unpublished. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The question before the Court involved Eleventh Amendment and state sovereign immunity principles.

State:

Monongahela Power Co., et al., v. Chief, Office of Water Resources, 211 W.Va. 619, 567 S.E.2nd 629 (2002).  The question before the Court involved Clean Water Act implementation in the Upper Blackwater area of West Virginia.

Louden and Sears v. West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection and Green Valley Coal Company, 209 W.Va. 689, 551 S.E.2d 501 (2001). The question before the Court involved attorney fees generated under SMCRA.

West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection v. Kingwood Coal Company, 200 W.Va. 734, 490 S.E.2d 823 (1997). The question before the Court involved the state surface mining act and Ownership and Control.

Administrative:

John XXXX v. WCC and Employer; Claim No. XXXX (The claimant's request for a liver transplant was properly denied as claimant could not show condition developed in the course of and resulting from employment).

Ignacio XXXX v. WCC and Employer; Claim No. XXXX (PTD award properly set aside pursuant to W.Va. Code 23-2-1c as claimant sought benefits in other jurisdiction).

Robert XXXX v. WCC and Employer; Claim No. XXXX (PTD application properly time-barred under W.Va. Code 23-4-16).

George XXXX v. WCC and Employer; Claim No. XXXX (Occupational Disease not received in the course of and resulting from employment).