The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals recently appointed Clayton Fitzsimmons to the District One Character Committee. The Character Committee members are appointed for a five year term and are required to interview applicants applying to become members of the West Virginia State Bar. The Committee is also required to verify facts stated within a Bar applicant's application and conduct investigations, if necessary, in order to consider the character and fitness of each applicant requesting admission to the West Virginia State Bar. A Committee member then is required to report his findings and recommendations in regard to the character and fitness of the applicant for admission to the Bar. The First Judicial District is comprised of Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio counties.
In commenting upon the nomination, Clayton Fitzsimmons said that he was "humbled by the Supreme Court's selection to this Committee which was designed to ensure that attorneys practicing within the State of West Virginia meet the extremely high standards of character and fitness to practice law." Bob Fitzsimmons, the firm's founding member, said "Clayton has worked extremely hard as an attorney and the Supreme Court's appointment demonstrates that he has established himself as a leader within the State Bar. He will do an excellent job and will help ensure that all the attorneys serving the citizens of West Virginia will be of the highest character."
Clayton Fitzsimmons is a personal injury trial lawyer who concentrates his practice on representing workers who have been hurt or killed on the job. He regularly handles cases on behalf of workers in claims involving "deliberate intention," intentional workplace torts, coal mining accidents, oil and gas accidents, workplace explosions, and workplace toxic exposure. Clayton has successfully handled numerous multi-million dollar claims, including a $13.1 Million verdict in a wrongful death claim tried in Ohio County, West Virginia. Clayton has successfully briefed and argued cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General to represent the State against pharmaceutical companies alleged to have deceptively and fraudulently marketed their prescription drugs. Clayton was selected for membership into the National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 in 2012, 2013, and 2014 and was selected by his peers as a West Virginia Super Lawyer – Rising Star in 2013 and 2014.