Jeffrey V Kessler
888-839-2585
Jeffrey V. Kessler is a founding partner of the law firm of Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield, Taylor & Gordon. He is licensed to practice law in all of the Courts of the State of West Virginia, as well as the Northern and Southern United States District Courts of West Virginia. He has also been admitted to appear in several Courts throughout the State of Ohio, as well as Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Kessler has vast courtroom and litigation experience, having personally tried hundreds of civil and criminal cases to a successful conclusion. He served as an assistant Prosecutor for over sixteen (16) years in Marshall County, West Virginia, and as a Special Prosecutor in both Ohio and Wetzel Counties. His extensive experience in personal injury includes wrongful death and traumatic brain injury cases. His practice places an emphasis on insurance litigation, including bad faith and Unfair Trade Practice Act violations. He has significant experience in litigating complex insurance coverage issues, including establishing novel theories of coverage despite "publication", fraud and criminal act policy exclusions.
Attorney Kessler was appointed to serve as a Special Master, together with West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman, to resolve complex evidentiary issues and discovery disputes in the Fen-Phen mass tort litigation in Brooke County, West Virginia. He has also testified on numerous occasions in matters related to insurance coverage issues and Unfair Trade Practice Act violations.
He was recently retained to serve as lead West Virginia counsel to prosecute personal injury actions on behalf of numerous members of the West Virginia National Guard surrounding their toxic chemical exposure during the Iraq war.
Since 1997, Mr. Kessler has served as a member of the West Virginia State Senate and as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2003.
Areas of Practice
- 50% Personal Injury Litigation
- 10% Insurance Disputes and Litigation
- 10% Real Estate
- 10% Will and Estate Probate
- 10% Elder Law
- 10% Business and Commercial Transactions
Litigation Percentage
- 50% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- West Virginia, 1981
- U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia, 1981
- U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 1981
Education
- West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia
- J.D. - 1981
- West Liberty State College, West Liberty, West Virginia
- B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) - 1977
- Honors: Highest GPA in Graduating Class
- Major: Political Science
- Major: Economics
References
- Regional Economic Development Corporation
- BB&T Bank
Classes/Seminars
- Legislative Updates, WVAJ
- Ethics Law Changes
Honors and Awards
- West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Legislator of the Year Award
Professional Associations and Memberships
- West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 1983 - 2009
- West Virginia State Bar, 1981 - 2009
Past Employment Positions
- Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Office, Assistant Prosecutor, 1985 - 2000
- City of Benwood, City Attorney, 1983 - 1997
Pro Bono Activities
- West Virginia Law Institute, 2005 - 2009
- West Virginia State Bar District 2 Character Committee, 2003 - 2009
Fraternities/Sororities
- Theta Xi
