James B. Zimarowski Law Offices

Law Firm Overview

Criminal (both felony and misdemeanor) and civil litigation and appellate practice in both Federal and State courts in north central West Virginia. Practice includes State and municipal courts in Morgantown (Monongalia), Fairmont (Marion), Kingwood (Preston), Clarksburg (Harrison), Grafton (Taylor), and Phillipi (Barbour). Practice also includes Federal Courts in the Northern District of West Virginia at Wheeling, Clarksburg, Elkins, and Martinsburg.  Also seving the West Virginia University (WVU) faculty and student community.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Litigation
• Abduction/Kidnapping
• Appeals
• Arson
• Assault and Battery
• Burglary
• Breaking and Entering
• Controlled Substance/Drug Offenses/Conspiracy
• Computer Crimes
• Conspiracy/Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE)
• Counterfeiting/False Documents
• Driving Under the Influence DUI/DWI
• Embezzlement
• Fraud-Health Care/Medicare
• Fraud-Insurance
• False Pretenses/Fraudulent Schemes
• Firearms Violations
• Habeas Corpus
• Homicide/Murder/Manslaughter/Death
• Larceny/Stolen Property/Transferring and Receiving/Theft
• Money Laundering/Forfeiture
• Obstruction of Justice/False Statements
• Probation/Parole Violations
• Property Crimes
• Rape/Sexual/Sex Offenses
• Robbery
• Traffic/Vehicle Violations
• White Collar Crime
• Labor/Employment Law
• Whistle Blowing
• Grievance Handling
• All Forms of Discrimination, Private & Public Employment

Honors and Awards

• Order of the Coif, Honors in Law, 1982 - Present
• West Virginia Law Review, 1982 - Present
• Martindale-Hubbell "AV" rated - "preeminent" level legal ability and ethics
• LL.M. University of Illinois, 1985 - Present
• J.D. West Virginia University, 1982 - Present

Published Works

• "An Institutionalist Perspective on and Economics (Chicago Style) in the Context of United States Labor Law" (Co-Author with Michael J. Rodrick and William A. Wines, Arizona Law Review, Volume 35 Number 2, pages 397-443, 1993
• "A Primer on Power Balancing Under the National Labor Relations Act:, Michigan Journal of Law Reform, Volume 22 Number 1, pages 47-104, 1989
• "Interpreting Collective Bargaining Agreements: Ambiguity, Silence, and NRA Section 8(d)", Industrial Relations Law Journal, Volume 10, Number 4, Pages 465-508, 1988
• "Public Purpose, Law, and Economics: J.R. Commons and the Institutional Paradigm Revisited", West Virginia Law Review, Volume 90, No. 2, pages 387-416, (Winter 1987-88)
• "Book Review: The Hawk's Nest Incident: American's Worst Industrial Disaster", American Business Law Journal, Volume 25, Number 3, pages 567-70, 1987
• "The Viability of the Collective Bargaining Process: Corporate Transformations as Channeled Bargaining Power", Hofstra Labor Law Journal, Volume 3, Number 2, pages 137-203, 1986
• "Employer Evasion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement: Policy Directions and the Reagan NLRB", Labor Law Journal, Volume 37, Number 1, pages 50-60, 1986
• "The Limits Upon a Labor Union's 'Duty' to Control Wildcat Strikers", West Virginia Law Review, Volume 84, Number 3, pages 703-87, 1982
• "Survey of Developments in the Fourth Circuit, 1981", West Virginia Law Review, Volume 84, Number 3, pages 703-87, 1982
• "Abusive Discharge and Employment at Will", West Virginia Public Interest Law Report, Volume 5, Number 1 pages 7-10, 1982

Representative Cases

• State of West Virginia v. Bohn, 565 S.E.2d 399 (WV 2002)
• State of West Virginia v. Baylor, 542 S.E. 2d 399 (WV 2000)
• State Ex Rel Hall v. Liller, 536 S.E. 2d 120 (WV 2000)
• US v. Musgrove (U.S. App. Lexis 16331 1999)
• Kincell, et al v. Marion County Board of Education, 499 S.E. 2d 862 (WV 1997)
• State ex rel. Stuckey v. Trent, 505 S.E.. 2d 417 (WV 1998)
• Ayersman v. Monongalia County Commission, et al, 482 S.E. 2d 140 (WV 1996)
• United States v. Watson, 94 F. 3d 643 (4th Cir. 1996)
• State ex rel. McGraw v. Suarez et. al,, 472 S.E. 2d 792 (WV 1996)
• State ex rel. Brewer v. Starcher, 465 S.E. 2d 184 (WV 1995)
• State v. Jessica M. etal, 445 S.E. 2d 243 (WV 1994)
• United States v. Parker, 28 F. 3d 1211 (4th Cir. 1994)
• Nutter v. Monongahela Power Company, 4F. 3d 319 (4th Cir. 1993)
• Board of Trustees of Fireman's Pension & Relief Fund v City of fairmont, 599 S.E. 2d 789 (WV 2004)
• State of West Virginia v Fergurson, 607 S.E. 2d 526 (WV Sup Ct 2004)
• United States v Filcheck, 165 Fed Appx. 284 (4th Circuit 2006)
• United States v Jones, 214 Fed Appx. 329 (4th Circuit 2007)
• United States v Pyles, 482 F. 3d 282 (4th Circuit)
• United States v Martin, 2008 APP. LEXIS 723 (4th Circuit 2008)
• Pyles v United States, 128 S.Ct 865, 169 L.Ed. 713, 76 U.S.L.W. 3343 (USSCt 2008)
• State of West Virginia v Kent, 678 S.E.2d 26 (WVSCt 2009)

West Practice Categories

Criminal Law, Criminal Fraud, DUI/DWI, Drug Violations, Federal, Felonies, Grand Jury Proceedings, Juvenile Crimes, Misdemeanor, Parole & Probation, Prosecution, RICO Act, Sex Offenses, Traffic Violations, Victims' Rights, White Collar Crimes, Employment Law -- Employee, Labor Law, Collective Bargaining, Labor Arbitration, Labor Disputes, Labor Legislation, Labor Relations Boards & Proceedings, Unfair Labor Practices, Unions, Litigation & Appeals, Complex Litigation, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US Supreme Court