Schweppe, John V.

The National Trial Lawyers Association selected Bill Schwartz as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in West Virginia. This selection recognized his dedication to representing injured workers and families for many years.  He was also selected as litigation star by the publication Benchmark Litigation. 

Bill earned his Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee University where he was selected to serve on the Moot Court Board, judging student competitions and papers, as well as coaching the Regional Champion Mock Trial team in the National Trial Competition. He earned his bachelor's degree from St. John's University in New York City, where he received both academic and athletic scholarships while winning medals at the Big East and competing in National Track and Field Championships. He has shown not only success, but passion in his pursuits and this has carried over into his representation of clients.

Bill has practiced law in West Virginia since 1988. He has developed into one of the leading lawyers in the State who represent victims of toxic and chemical exposure, particularly claims of asbestos exposure. He has personally prepared, tried to verdict or negotiated individual settlements for nearly one hundred victims of mesothelioma in the State of West Virginia. Each case received individual treatment from Bill and his staff. He has obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients and successfully argued before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Bill also participated in and delivered closing arguments at consolidated trials resulting in precedent setting verdicts against DuPont and Union Carbide. Prior to that he obtained a substantial verdict for a mesothelioma victim in West Virginia. He also obtained the first verdict on behalf of a mesothelioma victim against his employer in West Virginia. These and other cases he resolved received local and national media attention. News coverage of these and other cases can be viewed on the firm's website, but prior results are no gaurantee of future results.

Bill has been a speaker across the country at seminars for lawyers representing victims of mesothelioma and other toxic exposure cases. He has also lectured on law at West Virginia State University. Lawyers in West Virginia and across the country regularly seek his advice and assistance in preparing their own cases for trial. He often comments on behalf of victims rights to the news media and appears at the legislature to advocate for fair legislation for the injured and their families. Bill and his assistants have created a large database and files of documents and other evidence for toxic tort cases in West Virginia. He and his staff have proven time and again that they can prosecute a case to resolution quickly and successfully for a mesothelioma or other asbestos-related cancer victims.

Bill is admitted to practice law in West Virginia, Kentucky, The District of Columbia, The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is a member of both the West Virginia and American Associations for Justice, as well as the West Virginia State Bar. He lives in Charleston, with his wife and their children, and continues to advocate for the rights of victims in the courts, the media and the legislature. If you have questions you can contact him or his staff through the firm's website or call the office directly.