Mesothelioma

Sara M. Salger received her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, graduating cum laude, and Saint Louis University School of Law for her J.D. where she received an International Law Certificate and litigation focus. She spent two semesters abroad during law school attending Università Cà Foscari di Venezia in Venice, Italy and University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. Ms. Salger's legal career has been focused on advocating for individuals wronged by the actions of others, with a particularized focus on representing victims of mesothelioma and lung cancer, as a result of exposure to asbestos. She has also handled complex benzene litigation and general personal injury claims. Working at The Gori Law Firm since the firm's inception, and a Partner since May 2016, she is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri, is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Madison County Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Missouri State Bar Association, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, American Association for Justice, National Asbestos Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers (Member), National Women Trial Lawyers, and is on the Illinois Trial Lawyers Executive Committee and Board. Actively involved in her community, Ms. Salger serves on various philanthropic boards in the area and volunteers her time speaking to local high school and college law classes and groups.

Stephen Healy has practiced law for over 27 years, now focusing his practice on asbestos compensation claims and asbestos civil litigation in state and federal court. Attorney Healy has represented many individuals that worked in mills or factories, or are military veterans who worked in environments that exposed them to asbestos. Attorney Healy is licensed to practice law in the States of California and Nevada, and is also accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to represent veterans when they file for service connected disability benefits.

Eric is passionate about helping others reach their legal goals and he looks forward to helping you. Eric has a wonderful wife, Sara, and three children, Matthew, Nicholas and Madison. Eric enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and coaching youth basketball, soccer and baseball. Eric also volunteers in his church and the community to help others in need.

Nicholas Vogelzang has been advocating and fighting for families stricken with mesothelioma for over 20 years. His practice is focused on dedication to his craft and doing what is necessary for his clients’ peace of mind. He regularly appears in court, arguing against Fortune 500 companies and other corporations, holding them accountable for their negligence.

Led by James F. Humphreys, our firm fights for those who have suffered a serious personal injury or the loss of a loved one due to the wrongful conduct of others. Jim Humphreys has been recognized as one of West Virginia’s Top 100 Lawyers and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the nation by National Trial Lawyers. He has been featured by West Virginia Super Lawyers, named in the top 10% of lawyers by Avvo and James F. Humphreys & Associates, L.C. has been ranked in the top 75 firms in the nation by Shook & Hardy’s survey of the defense bar. With over 40 years of experience handling personal injury, wrongful death, and mesothelioma claims, Humphreys fights to get his clients the compensation they deserve for their pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and funeral expenses.

Christopher “Chip” Hickey has represented hundreds of clients with mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases throughout Ohio and North Carolina. Chip has also represented victims of catastrophic injuries caused by defective products and negligent conduct.

Scott A. Wilkonson, was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2004. He has over 15 years experience helping in the areas of Social Security Disability, Wills and Estate Planning, Landlord Issues and Property Management Assistance, Asbestos and Mesothelioma Claims, Corporate Formation and Residential Real Estate Transactions. Working with Scott, you are guaranteed professionalism and attention.

Mr. Segal thrives on the practice of law and his arena of choice is the courtroom. He concentrates on representing catastrophically injured people or the estates of those killed due to the negligence of others. Some of the types of cases he handles involve industrial accidents, aviation tragedies, tractor trailer crashes, train wrecks, mining accidents, electrocutions, workplace injuries, and injuries from defective products. Mr. Segal also has a major practice emphasis on class action litigation and complex mass litigation. The types of class and complex cases he has handled includes asbestos litigation, pharmaceuticals, insurance practices, and a wide range of consumer matters. A few catastrophic injuries are the result of fate. Law, engineering, science and medicine are the tools with which we stop the irresponsible. Education Mr. Segal earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Vermont in 1977. He earned his J.D. in 1981 from the West Virginia University College of Law. Mr. Segal excelled in trial and advocacy skills during law school. He was a member of the Moot Court Board, the National Appellate Competition Team and the National Trial Competition Team. He achieved recognition with the award of the prestigious Order of the Barristers and the Marlyn E. Lugar best advocate award. He has been an avid supporter of both the University of Vermont where he received the Alumni of Achievement Award and West Virginia University, where he was honored with the Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineer Award. Significant Cases Mr. Segal has many significant accomplishments for his clients. For instance, he recently obtained a $25 million jury verdict for a physician who had been treated improperly by a hospital. Mr. Segal was co-trial counsel in litigation regarding the improper payment of gas royalties to thousands of West Virginians. The jury awarded $405 million to the plaintiffs. Mr. Segal was co-lead class counsel in the West Virginia diet drug litigation, which was successfully resolved. He was co-lead class counsel in the West Virginia litigation involving the diabetes drug Rezulin, which is one of the few such cases in the country to overcome legal challenges and reach resolution. Mr. Segal was co-lead class counsel in OxyContin litigation in West Virginia. Mr. Segal was in the forefront of asbestos litigation and has successfully tried and resolved over 15,000 asbestos and/or mesothelioma cases. Professional Associations Mr. Segal is a member of and involved in numerous professional associations. In 1998, Mr. Segal was inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates, which has a limited membership of one hundred of the best plaintiffs’ trial lawyers in the United States. Some of his other associations include: the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Association for Justice – Leader’s Forum, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the West Virginia Association for Justice – Board of Governors, and The Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. He was the co-chair of the Legal Aid of West Virginia’s Campaign for Legal Aid. He teaches continuing legal education seminars regularly in West Virginia and throughout the country. Community Service Mr. Segal believes that commitment to community service is a vital part of honoring the responsibility of being a lawyer. He has been engaged in community service activities since the beginning of his law practice. He is currently serving or has served on numerous boards providing philanthropic guidance, including the United Way Board of Directors, West Virginia Symphony Board of Directors, Thomas Memorial Hospital Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia Board of Directors, and the National Youth Science Foundation Board of Trustees. Mr. Segal and his wife, West Virginia Supreme Court Justice, Robin Jean Davis, are the founders of the Segal & Davis Family Foundation, which supports charitable causes benefiting children and animals. Personal Mr. Segal and his wife, West Virginia Supreme Court Justice, Robin Jean Davis, live in Charleston, West Virginia, with their young son and golden retrievers. Mr. Segal enjoys architecture and photography and used his skills from these interests to guide the design and building of their home. Mr. Segal is an avid skier and has loved the sport since childhood. He and his family enjoy regular ski trips to Colorado. Mr. Segal and his young son have succeeded in conquering the ski mountains of Colorado together and have earned the Talon Challenge Medal. Mr. Segal and his family also enjoy biking and hiking throughout the mountains of West Virginia.

Our attorney, John Stevens, began his legal career after graduating from the Mississippi College School of Law in 1989. During his law school years, he served as chief justice on the Mississippi College Honor Court, as well as a staff member for the Mississippi College Law Review. John has been practicing law ever since, amassing nearly three decades of experience.

Vermont trial lawyer Chris Maley has extensive experience in the area of medical malpractice and personal injury. In February 2006, Chris recovered $2,375,000.00 in a medical malpractice lawsuit involving the negligent delay in diagnosis of prostate cancer. In 2004, Alan Sylvester and Chris recovered $5,400,000.00 for a Wrongful Death case. In 2003, John Maley and Chris settled, just prior to closing arguments, a United States District Court personal injury motor vehicle accident claim for $2,925,000.00. Chris's accomplishments have been recognized by his fellow attorneys. He has been selected by his peers to be included in the publication The Best Lawyers in America.Chris has participated in trials, arbitrations and mediations arising out of malpractice claims against physicians, nurses and hospitals. Chris has litigated dozens of cases involving medical negligence during pregnancy and delivery. Chris has handled medical malpractice cases involving: failure to diagnose prostate, lung, breast, cervical, testicular and other cancers, as well as failure to diagnose stroke, heart attack and other conditions. Other malpractice cases he has resolved include overdoses, experimental medicine complications, surgical negligence, misdiagnoses and emergency room errors. Chris's personal injury practice involves representation of those injured or the families of those killed in car and trucking accidents. He also represents those harmed due to defective and unreasonably dangerous drugs or other products. Chris was born in Burlington, Vermont. He graduated cum laude from both St. Lawrence University in 1993 and from Suffolk University Law School in 1996. At Suffolk, he was a recipient of an American Jurisprudence Award and was a member and an editor of the Transnational Law Review. Chris was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1996 and practiced in Boston at the law firm of Martin, Magnuson, McCarthy & Kenney for six years primarily in the area of medical malpractice before being admitted to the Vermont Bar in 2002. Chris was also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 1997. Chris is on the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors of the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association.  He is a member of the American Association for Justice, Vermont Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Association. His practice areas include general personal injury matters, medical malpractice, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, pharmaceutical litigation, and product liability.