Tamara J. DeFazio, Attorney

Tamara J. DeFazio is a seasoned trial attorney having over 20 years of trial and appellate experience.  Her experience ranges from the representation of healthcare organizations in class actions to the defense of state and local governments as well as colleges and universities in employment and civil rights actions.  She has tried a number of cases to verdict and has represented clients in both the state and federal courts of West Virginia.

She represented a former school administrator in the landmark case of Arbaugh v. Pendleton County Board of Education, 591 S.E.2d 235 (W. VA. 2003) and obtained a grant of summary judgment in favor of a former serologist in an action alleging professional negligence and falsification of records.

She is a member of the Defense Trial Counsel Board of Governors and was most recently appointed to serve as a Member of the Judicial Election Campaign Advertising Commission of the West Virginia State Bar.

Representative Experience

• Lead trial counsel in defense of civil rights actions filed against police officers and governmental officials
• Lead trial counsel for state agencies, county and municipal governments in state and federal courts
• Defense of mental health facilities in state and federal courts
• Representation in professional negligence actions defending engineers, contractors and architects
• Lead trial counsel for colleges and universities in civil rights and employment related actions
• Appellate experience in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
• Insurance defense litigation, including the defense of automobile accident and premises liability cases