What's the Law Say?

In this episode of What's the Law Say?, Clint visits with Roger Hanshaw about how our state laws are enacted by the legislature. Roger is the Speaker of the House of Delegates and provides an overview of how an idea can become law in the state of West Virginia. He talks about the governmental structure in the state and walks through what happens when a proposed change to the law is sugge...

In this episode of What's the Law Say? Clint talks with Karen Macon of the Public Service Commission about utility regulation and customer rights and services that the PSC can provide for utilities customers to assist in resolving complaints about public utilities such as water, electric, or gas. What does the PSC have in place to help customers who are having problems? Get some answers as we...

In this episode of What's the Law Say? Clint chats with Dane Henry, Advocacy, Training and Technology Attorney at Legal Aid of West Virginia. They discuss tools available to the public online to assist with legal issues. These resources include final products like drafted court documents and letters to opposing parties. There are also tools designed to assess legal claims through technology like t...

In this episode of What's the Law Say, Clint visits with Melissa Giggenbach from the WV Innocence Project, a clinic of WVU College of Law. They discuss the work of the Innocence project: how they identify cases that qualify for their assistance and how they are able to seek relief for people who have been convicted and incarcerated for crimes that they did not commit. Melissa and Clint t...

This is Part 2 of Clint's discussion with Dana Eddy, Executive Director of Public Defender Services. In this episode, Clint and Dana discuss the plea bargaining process, criminal trial, pre-trial diversion programs, sentencing and other issues impacting criminal defendants. Clint and Dana also talk about the impact of defendants who have mental illness and are otherwise unable to stand t...

In part 1 of this episode, Clint talks with Dana Eddy, Executive Director of Public Defender Services. Clint and Dana talk about the pretrial procedure in criminal law. This episode is part 1 of a 2 part focus on criminal law in the State of West Virginia. Clint and Dana discuss and provide an overview of the pre-trial process including arrest warrants, indictments and what is neede...

In this edition of What's the Law Say?, Clint visits with pro bono attorney Walt Auvil to discuss employment law. They talk through things that are illegal for an employer to do and outline what rights an employee has. Clint and Walt talk about the rights and obligations of employees and employers and discuss numerous ways an employee can enforce their rights including the department of labor...

In this episode of What's the Law Say, Clint talks with Wheeling Attorney Andrew Beatty about unemployment compensation benefits. They talk about who is eligible for unemployment, actions that can make an employee ineligible, and how the process works when you apply for unemployment benefits including the initial deputy decisions, the hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and appeal opt...

In this episode of What’s the Law Say, Clint visits with housing attorneys Katie Ackerman and Carolyn Beyer. They discuss the warranty of habitability implied in all residential rental agreements in the State of West Virginia, meaning in rental housing there is an expectation that the rental property is safe and in good enough condition for the renter to live. This episode discusses what...

In this episode of What's the Law Say?, Clint chats with Ed Sharpe about the Fair Housing Act, which prevents discrimination against tenants in protected classes. They discuss protections under the Federal Act, as well as West Virginia state law. They define a protected class and they discuss a tenant's rights if they believe they are the victim of discrimination, including discrimi...

Clint visits with Legal Aid of West Virginia's Access to Services Manager Kate White about Legal Aid clinics, referral partners, and other ways to access LAWV services through phone and online intake. Kate and Clint also chat about information needed to apply for services, persons who may be eligible, and types of cases that are eligible for services from LAWV. More information is at leg...

In this episode of What's the Law Say?, Clint visits with Melissa Coffman to discuss the WV Works program and the partnership with LAWV. WV Works, known as TANF in the past, is a program designed to assist low income families to develop necessary job skills and provides additional tools to help recipients become self-sufficient. LAWV partners with this program to provide necessary legal...

Clint continues his discussion with Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Mountain State Justice. They dive deeper into issues relating to mortgage foreclosure and discuss options available to borrowers to avoid foreclosure such as loan modifications and deed in lieu of foreclosure. They also discuss the foreclosure process to assist anyone in the process to better understand the rights aff...

In this edition of What's the Law Say, Clint visits with Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Mountain State Justice. Mountain State Justice is a non-profit law-firm that assists consumers in debt collection cases and foreclosure defense on behalf of debtors. In this episode they discuss general consumer law protections including in cases of consumer credit cards, car loans and other secur...

In this special Veteran's Day edition, Clint visits with Phillip Pham, Veteran's attorney at LAWV. They discuss issues specific to those who have served our country including the ability to upgrade a discharge, how to apply for Veteran's benefits and guidance from the VA and the Pact Act that may increase eligibility for veteran's benefits for many veterans. Many veterans should consider re-a...

Clint talks with Andy Nason, President of LAWV's Board of Directors and practicing bankruptcy attorney. They chat about how a bankruptcy court can discharge debt and, in some cases, reorganize debts. They cover the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy and what it takes to be eligible to file bankruptcy. They also discuss the differences between secured debts (i.e....

Clint visits with John Williams, former transactions law attorney, about the basics of starting a business in West Virginia. John and Clint cover corporate entities available in West Virginia, including partnerships, LLC, and corporations. They also discuss tax implications and other pros and cons of these options. More information about how to start your own business can be found at bus...

Clint and attorney Brendan Wood discuss West Virginia's medical cannabis law including the interplay with federal law, pitfalls for recipients and application process. They also cover the distinctions between Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) and medical cannabis and provisions to protect people receiving treatment in recovery.  Resources that are mentioned and may be helpful can be fou...

Clint is joined by LAWV staff attorney Rachel Fetty to discuss the Medicaid program in West Virginia. They talk about the appeals process, what Medicaid covers, low-cost health insurance, how it interacts with other insurances and appealing a denial of Medicaid or of any service Medicaid didn't cover that your doctor deemed a medical necessity. They also talk about reviews pending from t...

Clint Adams and LAWV attorney Kira Maunz talk about Social Security benefits, specifically what happens when someone receiving benefits gets an overpayment notice, meaning Social Security has overpaid their benefits and oftentimes are asking the person receiving benefits pay them back. Kira and Clint talk about how to work with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to stop overpayments or handl...

Clint Adams is joined by Legal Aid of WV paralegal Vanessa Beam to discuss Social Security and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) Benefits. What steps should you take to apply for these programs? What is a “compassionate allowance” or a “fast track” plan? At what point are you eligible to receive Social Security benefits? What do you need to prove eligibility for SSI? What does a Continues Disabi...

Clint visits with Stephanie Coleman, program director of West Virginia University College of Law Taxpayer Clinic. They cover lots of tax issues including how to claim missing stimulus payments, how to correct errors and how to handle debt to the IRS. What should you do with the letters the IRS sends you and at what point should you seek legal assistance? What are the W2 and 1099 forms and whi...

Clint Adams and Cathy Townsend-Estep discuss the DHHR’s Supplementary Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as Food Stamps. Learn how to apply for SNAP and how to check how much you are eligible for based on income and assets. What form do these benefits come in and what are you able to purchase with them? Learn about new guidelines post COVID-19 pandemic and potential work require...

Marie Bechtel joins Clint Adams to discuss options for West Virginians seeking to seal their past criminal records, a process known as expungement. Which crimes are eligible for expungement, and which are not (DUIs, crimes against child or elderly victims, violence, etc.). At what point do you become eligible for a record expungement and how does completion of a Substance Use Disorder Recovery Pro...

Clint Adams and Legal Aid of WV attorney Marie Bechtel share information for West Virginians looking to get their driver's license for the first time or to get a reinstatement after a suspension or revocation. Learn about the two tests needed to receive this type of identification and what documents you should bring with you to your appointment. How can you get assistance if you do not have the ne...