History

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Farrell & Farrell, L.C. was formed in 1995 when Mike Farrell, Paul Farrell, Charlotte Hoffman and Tammy White joined together to create a boutique litigation firm which specialized in high risk and complex litigation.

At the time they decided to form the Firm, Paul was completing his very successful term as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. In that capacity, he managed the acclaimed Drug Task Force, for which his office received national recognition. Mike, Charlotte and Tammy had practiced together at another Huntington, West Virginia firm, Jenkins, Fenstermaker, Kreiger, Kayes, Farrell & Agee, where Mike had been Chief of the Litigation Section since 1979. Charlotte joined Mike at Jenkins to work in his business litigation and appellate law practices.  Tammy, a nurse and former hospital administrator, collaborated with Mike in defending medical malpractice and product liability claims. Both Charlotte and Tammy had graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Tammy was awarded Order of the Coif.

In its first months, the Firm was consumed with the defense of a major pharmaceutical product liability claim in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, which involved Bayer Aspirin. The successful resolution of that litigation was the springboard to a stream of pharmaceutical product liability defenses in West Virginia for Bayer and many other pharmaceutical clients.

The original concept of a boutique litigation firm, representing a select group of clients, became unrealistic with the increasing demand for representation from new clients and the proliferation of mass litigation. West Virginia became the magnet for mass litigation, including Fen-Phen (when the firm was appointed defense liaison counsel for one of the defendant classes), hearing loss cases and other drug product claims.  Mass Litigation Panel litigation became one of the Firm’s strengths.   

Firm growth was marked by the recruitment of the third Farrell brother, Joe, who offered a new perspective for the Firm's defense practice. He had been a partner in the firm of Hunt, Lees, Farrell & Kessler, where his practice concentrated on plaintiffs' personal injury claims and criminal law. He answered the call, assumed the role of defense counsel and the Firm was renamed Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, L.C and later Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, PLLC.

Erik Legg, a West Virginia University College of Law graduate, joined the firm as an Associate in May 2000, as a lateral hire, having worked for two (2) years at another West Virginia defense firm.  He quickly distinguished himself in the Baycol litigation, which involves a series of mass litigation cases filed in West Virginia's state and federal courts. He also has extensive experience in medical malpractice and employment law litigation. He has lectured on issues such as electronic discovery and the Federal Class Action Fairness Act.  Erik became a Member in 2007.

In 2001, Charlotte left the Firm to serve as General Counsel for one of the Firm's clients, River Park Hospital, during its reorganization under new ownership. She returned to the Firm and resumed her status as a Member in 2003.  During this same period, Tammy received the honor of being elected to the International Association of Defense Counsel, an honor not previously given to any female lawyer in West Virginia.

In 2011, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Paul to serve as a Circuit Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.  Judge Farrell is one of four Circuit Court Judges who has general jurisdiction.    The Firm was renamed Farrell, White & Legg PLLC (“FWL”).  Today, the five Members are Mike, Joe, Tammy, Erik and Charlotte.  FWL proudly recognizes Tammy White for her extraordinary trial success and Erik Legg for his prominence in the pharmaceutical litigation practice.  All three named partners are members of the International Association of Defense Counsel. 

Because of its growth, the Firm has been able to provide representation to its clients involved in class actions and mass litigations pending in West Virginia, including Fen-Phen, Rezulin, Oxycontin, Baycol, hearing loss, tobacco price-fixing/antitrust, chemical spill, flood-damage and float sink (Perchloroethylene) cases. These experiences with the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, statewide class actions and federal multi-district litigation establish FWL as the preeminent defense counsel in West Virginia for complex mass litigation.

The Firm's products liability practice is intertwined with its health care and medical malpractice defense practices. To meet the medical issues which arise, FWL is staffed with a cadre of experienced litigators and nurse paralegals who can dissect voluminous and complex medical records and identify the facts which will support both standard of care and causation defenses for our clients. Years of trying medical malpractice cases on a statewide basis has honed the medical detective skills of the FWL team.

West Virginia and Kentucky are coal states and mine-related litigation has been a central focus for the Firm throughout its existence. FWL is proud of its role as General Counsel for J.H. Fletcher & Co., the world's leading designer and manufacturer of roof bolting equipment.  It successfully represented a client in the Sago Mine Disaster cases.

As proud as the Firm is of its attorneys' successes in the courtroom, it is equally proud of the counseling it is able to provide its clients to keep them out of the courtroom. The cost of litigation for individuals and corporations can be far more than merely attorneys' fees and court costs. Risk management general advisory for clients is a cornerstone of FWL's practice. The Firm also assumes a proactive role educating professionals and non-professionals about evolving aspects of the law and how to navigate through the complexities of state and federal regulations. FWL attorneys regularly make presentations and publish articles regarding changes in the law and defense practice as part of meeting their professional responsibility to their colleagues, the courts and clients.

Martindale-Hubbell for years has consistently listed the Firm in its Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in recognition of FWL's adherence to the highest professional legal and ethical standards.  Similarly, for years Mike as founding and managing Member has been recognized by his peers by his selection to the American College of Trial Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America.  All of the members have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America.  These accolades have served to inspire FWL's young lawyers to continue pursuing the ideals of the Firm's Mission and provide the best representation they can to the Firm's clients.