(Main Office)

Mr. Bell began the firm which bears his name with the express focus of providing thorough and high-quality, yet cost-effective representation on behalf of the firm's clients. He has developed an extensive litigation practice over the years.

The firm is pleased to represent such prestigious and high profile clients as DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Mack Trucks, Allegheny Power Company and Mountaineer Gas Company, in addition to numerous insurance carriers such as Safeco Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, CNA and Associated Aviation Underwriters.

The firm has taken advantage of the most up-to-date computer technology available and experienced staff to insure its clients receive the best possible attention to their needs throughout the state of West Virginia.

Statement of Practice

General Civil Trial Practice in all State and Federal Courts, Insurance Defense, Personal Injury, Subrogation, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Heavy Equipment and Machinery, Aviation and Automotive Law, Toxic Torts, Government Relations, Commercial Litigation, Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, Employment Law and Mediation, Arbitration, Car Accidents, Auto Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Coal Mining Accidents, Timber Accidents, Defective Drugs, Defective Medical Devices, Novartis Zelnorm, Avandia, Gadolinium, Nursing Home Litigation, Wrongful Death, Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination, Securities Fraud, OSHA Violations, Discrimination, Americans With Disabilities Act, Birth Injuries, Mesothelioma, Nursing Home Negligence, Defective Drugs and Medical Devices.

Representative Clients:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc.
Airgas, Inc.
Mountaineer Gas Co.
Allegheny Power Company
American Family Ins. Co.
Republic Claims Service Co.
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Safeco Insurance Company
Assurant Group
Lloyds of London
Loss Management Services
CNA Insurance
C.C. Lewis Heirs, Ltd
Alliance of American Insurers
Associated Aviation Underwriters
AEGIS Insurance Group
Mountain States Airgas
Southern Aviation Insurance Underwriters
Somerset Aviation, Inc.
Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
American Bankers Insurance
GRE Insurance Group
State Farm Insurance
McNeilus Manufacturing
General Star Management Company
West Virginia National Auto Insurance Company, Inc.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
GAB Business Services, Inc.
Church Mutual Insurance Company
TIG Insurance Company
Auto Owner's Insurance Company
West Virginia Fire & Casualty Company
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company
Danka Business Systems
Celina Insurance Group
CGU Insurance
Mark III Industries, Inc.

References:

Huntington Bankshares, WV Inc.
National Bank of Commerce.

Address

30 Capitol Street P.O. Box 1723
Charleston, WV 25326-1723, (Kanawha Co.)

Phone

Phone: 304-932-4225; 304-345-1700
Facsimile: 304-345-1715
Toll Free: 866-912-3007

Website

http://www.belllaw.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Tuesday: 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Wednesday: 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Thursday: 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Friday: 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM

ASSOCIATE

Erin L. Winter (Associate) born St. Albans, West Virginia, October 8, 1979; admitted to bar, 2004, West Virginia and U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia. Education: Boston University (B.S., Film, summa cum laude, 2001); University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2004). Erin Leigh Winter joined Bell & Bands as an Associate Attorney in May 2004, after having worked as a law clerk at the firm during the summer of 2003. A native of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, Ms. Winter graduated from Nitro High School in 1997, where she was a National Merit Scholar. She then spent a year at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, before transferring to Boston University, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2001 with a B.S. in Film and a minor in Philosophy. Ms. Winter left New England for warmer climes to attend law school, receiving her J.D. from the University of Georgia in 2004, graduating cum laude. While in law school, Ms. Winter attended a semester at the London Law Consortium in London, England, and interned with a barrister while in that program. Ms. Winter primarily concentrates her practice in nursing home litigation, but also works in personal injury, utility and aviation defense litigation. Member: Kanawha County and American Bar Associations; West Virginia State Bar; Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation.Email: Erin L. Winter

OF COUNSEL

Andrew L. Paternostro (Of Counsel) born Williamsport, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, West Virginia and U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Education: Kenyon College (A.B., English Literature, 1987); University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1990). Andrew Paternostro joined Bell & Bands on June 1, 2006, coming to the firm from Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC. Mr. Paternostro began his legal career at Steptoe & Johnson in 1990 after graduating from law school, then moved to Rose & Atkinson in 1993, where he became partner in 1995 and remained until 2000. At that point, he returned to Steptoe & Johnson on an Of Counsel basis, becoming a partner in 2001. Mr. Paternostro has extensive trial experience, successfully trying over 30 cases in both federal and state courts. His practice over the years has involved, and continues to involve, insurance, governmental and corporate defense in civil rights, products liability, medical malpractice, contractual and personal injury matters, as well as plaintiff's personal injury and consumer cases, and at Bell & Bands he also works extensively in the firm's nursing home practice. In addition to civil litigation trial work, Mr. Paternostro has also argued on the appellate level before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Paternostro is admitted in West Virginia, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Member, Journal of Law and Commerce, 1990. Member: Kanawha County and American Bar Associations; West Virginia State Bar. Practice Areas: Litigation.

Arthur J. Chmiel (Of Counsel) born Detroit, Michigan, December 13, 1942; admitted to bar, 1971, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1986, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 1992, West Virginia and U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia; 2002, Pennsylvania and U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. Education: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (B.A., Economics, 1967); Michigan State University, Detroit College of Law (J.D., 1971). After having been employed as Senior Counsel and for Allegheny Energy, Inc. a public utility holding company and its wholly owned subsidiaries Allegheny Power, and the Mountaineer Gas Company, as its acting general counsel, Arthur J. Chmiel joined Bell & Bands, PLLC, as Of Counsel on January 1, 2005. Before his employment with Allegheny Energy, Inc., Mr. Chmiel was employed with the LTV Steel Company, in Cleveland, Ohio as Labor and Employment Counsel and General Counsel to the Company's six wholly owned railway companies. Prior to that time, Mr. Chmiel worked as an associate with the Cross Wrock law firm in Detroit, Michigan, and was employed as Industrial Relations and Senior Counsel with the Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company also in Detroit. Mr. Chmiel also served in the Michigan National Guard, and as the Assistant City Attorney for Highland Park, Michigan, and has been a member of the American Arbitration Association and the National Mediation Conciliation Service. Although the focus of his practice has been labor and employment law, Mr. Chmiel has acquired a broad range of experience in commercial, general business, public utility and personal injury law, especially related to the electric and natural gas utility and transportation industries. A native of Detroit, Mr. Chmiel graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan, and a J.D. from Michigan State University. Classes/Seminars Taught: Employment Contracts for Physicians Assistants, 2005; Compendium on Spoliation of Evidence in West Virginia, 2006. Member: Ohio State, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan. [Michigan National Guard (1968-1974) Sgt.]. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Public Utility; Commercial Business.Email: Arthur J. Chmiel