Attorneys & Staff

Frank E. Simmerman, Jr.

Frank Simmerman's employment history runs from UMWA coal miner to bank examiner to attorney.  It is that foundation which grounds his advocacy in the "common sense" of real world experience, to which jurors relate.

Mr. Simmerman has 30+ years of experience as a trial lawyer. His diverse background ranges from trying plaintiffs' medical malpractice cases solo, to serving as co-liaison counsel for all defendants throughout the final three years of pretrial proceedings, and opening and closing what is believed to be the longest civil trial in West Virginia—a six-month trial in the Circuit Court of Monongalia County that is cited under In re State Public Bldg., Asbestos Litigation, 454 S.E.2d 413, 193 W. Va. 119 (1994); cert. denied 115 S.Ct. 2614, 515 U. S. 1160, 132 L. Ed. 2d 857.

Mr. Simmerman has tried over 100 jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts—representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has also appeared before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Three of Mr. Simmerman’s cases have advanced to the level of the United States Supreme Court, which illustrates the breadth of his practice.

Mr. Simmerman was selected for the initial class of West Virginia’s Super Lawyers. He is also AV® Peer Review Rated^SM by Martindale-Hubbell®.  His reported cases include:

• State v. Riley, 169 W.Va. 354, 287 S.E.2d 502 (1982)
• Mullen v. McWilliams, 850 F.2d 689 (4th Cir. 1988)
• Mullen v. Skinner, 474 U.S. 980, 106 S.Ct. 383 (1985), cert. denied
• Helmick v. Potomic Edison Co., et al., 185 W.Va. 269, 406 S.E.2d 700 (1991)
• Potomic Edison Co. v. Helmick, 502 U.S. 908, 112 S. Ct. 301 (1991), cert. denied
• In Re: State of West Virginia Public Building Asbestos Litigation, 193 W.Va. 119, 454 S.E.2d 413 (1994)
• W.R. Grace & Co. v. West Virginia, 515 U.S. 1160, 115 S. Ct. 2614 (1995), cert. denied
• Kessel v. Monongalia County Gen. Hosp. Co., 215 W.Va. 609, 600 S.E.2d 321 (2004)
• Kessel v. Monongalia County Gen. Hosp. Co., 220 W.Va. 602, 648 S.E.2d 366 (2007)
• In the Court of Claims of the State of West Virginia, American Vending Company, Inc. v. West Virginia University, (CC-04-963) (opinion issued June 30, 2007)
• Serian v. Penguin Group (USA), Inc., U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63677 (4th Cir. 2009) (unpublished)

Although not his largest settlement, Mr. Simmerman’s largest public settlement is the recovery of $2,250,000 on behalf of the family of a woman who died as a result of a failure to timely diagnose and treat a horrible infectious process. It is worth noting that this case had been reviewed and rejected by other lawyers. Successful prosecution required attention to detail and thorough, careful analysis. Similar recoveries have been obtained in several matters where other professionals have failed to carefully and fully evaluate the facts at hand.

Mr. Simmerman has served as local counsel for national firms in the areas of toxic torts and industrial accidents. He has obtained million-dollar settlements in areas of medical malpractice and nursing home abuse; defense verdicts in toxic tort matters; plaintiff’s verdicts in medical malpractice, industrial injuries, car wrecks, trucking accidents, deaths, loss of limbs, insurance bad faith, and defended paralysis claims and both prosecuted and defended insurance companies in the bad faith arena.

Mr. Simmerman is a member of the National Panel of Arbitrators, the American Arbitration Association, and the West Virginia State Bar. He was a member of the Executive Committee, Young Lawyers Division in 1983-1985; was chairman of the Standing Committee on Law Schools and Admission to Practice in 1988-1989; was a member (Board of Governors) of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia in 1984-1986; and is a member of the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

Chad L. Taylor

Chad L. Taylor graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2007. While a law student, Mr. Taylor served as a member of the Moot Court Board, and upon graduation, was selected as a national member of the Order of Barristers for exhibiting excellence in courtroom advocacy.

Upon his admission to the West Virginia Bar, Mr. Taylor joined Simmerman Law Office in October of 2007, and practices in all areas of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, personal injury, wrongful termination, employment matters, products liability, and commercial litigation.

In addition to being admitted to practice before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Mr. Taylor is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern District of West Virginia.

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Harrison County Bar Association, an active member of the Philippi Lions Club, donates his time as a 4-H adult volunteer which includes serving as a counselor at a week-long 4-H youth camp each summer, and attends Faith-Way Baptist Church in Philippi, West Virginia. Mr. Taylor makes his home in Philippi, along with his wife.

Judith A. Prince

Judith A. Prince has worked as a legal assistant since 1988, and received her Paralegal Certificate from West Virginia University Extended Learning through the West Virginia University College of Law, on December 10, 2001.

Ms. Prince joined Simmerman Law Office, PLLC in December of 2002, and serves as its legal assistant/paralegal/office manager.