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Eckert Seamans Expands in West Virginia, Adds Thirteen Attorneys from Hendrickson & Long;

Firm Opens Office in Charleston

The law firms of Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott, LLC and Hendrickson & Long, PLLC announced today that they will combine their respective practices effective January 1, 2009.  All 13 attorneys from Charleston-based Hendrickson & Long will join Eckert Seamans giving the firm a significant expansion in West Virginia and an important Charleston presence. 

Joining Eckert Seamans as Members are David K. Hendrickson, R. Scott Long, Jeffry H. Hall, Dwane L. Tinsley, Josef A. Horter, and Stephen M. Schwartz.  Joining the firm as Associates are Apryll H. Boggs, Stephen E. Hastings, Lora A. Dyer, H. Jerome Sparks and Benjamin F. White.  Joining Eckert Seamans as Special Counsel are Barbara Allen Samples and J. Miles Morgan. 

“Hendrickson & Long has built a reputation as a premier litigation-oriented law firm, taking on difficult and complex assignments for clients from across the nation,” said Tim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Eckert Seamans.  “We have worked closely with David and Scott for nearly fifteen years serving common clients of our respective firms.  This group’s experience, its established reputation in West Virginia, and the collective talents of its attorneys provide a perfect fit for Eckert Seamans.”

“After careful review of our plans for the future, it became clear to us that we could best serve our clients with the depth and resources that only a firm like Eckert Seamans can provide,” said Mr. Hendrickson.  “We recognized that the larger platform provided by Eckert Seamans would enable us to continue to build on what we started in Charleston many years ago.  Both firm’s commitment to client service through the delivery of the highest quality and cost-effective legal services made the merits of a combination obvious.  We are confident that together we will better serve our clients in West Virginia.”

Mr. Hendrickson has over 25 years’ trial experience.  His practice focuses on product liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice, insurance defense and general business litigation.  He was a founding partner of Hendrickson & Long.  He has been named in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, as one of The Best Lawyers in America and is a member of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  A former Captain in the United States Army, he earned his bachelor’s degree at West Virginia University, and he received his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Mr. Long was a founding partner of Hendrickson & Long and concentrates his practice on product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, toxic tort and asbestos defense.  He serves plaintiffs and defendants, including clients that range from individuals and privately held entities to Fortune 100 companies.  He has particular experience with class action litigation.  He was named in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and has been ranked among The Best Lawyers in America.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Mr. Hall focuses his practice on product liability, insurance defense, and toxic and mass tort litigation.   He has more than 20 years’ trial experience in both state and federal courts.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University, a master’s degree from Marshall University, and his law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Michigan. 

Mr. Tinsley, an accomplished trial attorney, focuses his practice on insurance defense litigation, including automobile accidents, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, insurance fraud, and criminal defense.  He presently serves as the President of the West Virginia Bar Association.  Formerly, he was Managing Trial Attorney for Nationwide Insurance Trial Division, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Fayette County (West Virginia), and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.  He is a certified agent for the National Football Players Association and serves as a mediator for the United States Postal Service and through the West Virginia State Bar.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from Davis & Elkins College, his master’s degree from Howard University, and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Mr. Horter concentrates his practice on insurance defense, coverage opinions, insurance law, and general defense litigation.  He has also built his practice on employment litigation, insurance subrogation, and creditor bankruptcy.  He received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and his law degree from Ohio Northern University School of Law.

Mr. Schwartz concentrates his practice on product liability, environmental law, workers’ compensation, business law, administrative law, general defense litigation, and intellectual property law.  He serves as West Virginia local counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Association.  He is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  He received his bachelor’s degree from the Colorado School of Mines and his law degree from the University of Arkansas.

Ms. Boggs’ practice focuses on product liability, toxic tort defense, silica litigation, insurance defense, and general defense litigation.  She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and her law degree at the West Virginia University College of Law.

Ms. Dyer practices in the areas of toxic tort, product liability, insurance litigation, securities regulation, creditor rights, bankruptcy, and general civil defense litigation.  She served as law clerk to Judge Jams C. Stucky of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and she interned at the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.  She received her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and her law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Mr. Sparks’ practice is centered on toxic tort defense, insurance defense, product liability, and general defense litigation.  His bachelor’s degree is from the University of Charleston.  He earned his master’s degree from West Virginia Graduate College and his law degree from Tulane University.

Mr. Hastings represents plaintiffs and defendants in cases that involved personal injury, product liability, professional malpractice, nursing home liability, breach of confidentiality/invasion of privacy, employment relations, wills, property law, toxic torts and other general areas of litigation.  He received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Mr. White's primary areas of practice include Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income and Veterans Disability.  He has experience managing a large client base involving clients with wide-ranging backgrounds

Ms. Allen Samples focuses her practice in the areas of product liability, toxic tort and asbestos defense.  She is also experienced in family law and personal injury law.  She earned her law and bachelor’s degrees from Wake Forest University.

Mr. Morgan’s practice focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury, employment discrimination, product liability defense and federal criminal litigation.  He was law clerk to United States District Court Judge Irene Keeley.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Eckert Seamans will maintain its Charleston office at 214 Capitol Street in Charleston’s business and financial district, the same location where Hendrickson & Long has been located.  Hendrickson & Long had worked with the Charleston Renaissance Committee to renovate the building, preserving its historic charm, while upgrading the facility to accommodate state-of-the-art office space. 

About Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC (www.eckertseamans.com), a national law firm with ten offices throughout the eastern United States, provides a full range of legal services nationwide to businesses of all sizes, institutions, municipalities, colleges and universities, government agencies and individuals.  Its practice areas encompass litigation, including mass tort and products liability litigation, corporate and business law, intellectual property law, labor and employment relations, aviation law, bankruptcy and restructuring, employee benefits, environmental law, construction law, municipal finance, real estate, and tax and estate law.  Eckert Seamans has offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, West Chester and Southpointe, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; Charleston, West Virginia; Boston, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C. and White Plains, New York.