Benjamin T. Hughes was born in Pensacola, Florida and grew up in Ripley, West Virginia. He attended WVU, receiving a B.A. in 1985 and his J.D. in 1989. After working briefly in Charleston upon graduation, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to practice law at the defense litigation firm of Chambers, Mabry, McClelland and Brooks from 1990 to 1996. Ben participated in over a dozen jury trials in Georgia as sole lead counsel, in addition to participating in several other trials as second chair counsel. He has argued several cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals.
In 1997, Ben moved back to West Virginia and joined the law firm of Pullin, Knopf, Fowler and Flanagan. After a brief two year stint with the Staff Counsel office of the St. Paul Insurance Company, Ben returned to PFFP&B in 2002, where he has practiced ever since. He was named a Member of the firm in 2003. His trial experience has continued to grow over the years. He has now taken over 40 jury trials to verdict over his career. He also has experience as a mediator.
Ben resides in Scott Depot with his wife, Kara, and three children, Dylan, Eliana, and Rocco. He is active in his church, Elizabeth Memorial United Methodist Church, and is a bell ringer for the Salvation Army during the holidays. His other charitable activities include Habitat for Humanity, the National MS Society, and the Gabriel Project. His hobbies and interests include WVU sports, skiing, hunting, fishing, and golf.
Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Representative Cases:
Chadbrooke Ins. Co. v. Fowler, 426 S.E.2d 578 (Ga. 1992)
Southern v. Sphere-Drake Ins. Co., 486 S.E.2d 674 (Ga. 1997)
Strickland v. Brown, 487 S.E.2d 105 (Ga. 1997)
Tambone v. Indiana Ins. Co., 493 S.E.2d 578 (Ga. 1997)
State ex rel. Ward v. Hill, 489 S.E.2d 578 (W.Va. 1997)
Representative Clients:
Travelers Insurance Company
Erie Insurance Property and Casualty Company
Encova Insurance Company
AIG Claim Services, Inc.
WV Board of Risk & Insurance Management
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
State Farm Insurance Company
Sedgwick Claims Agency Insurance Company
Classes/Seminars Taught:
West Virginia Bad Faith, 2004
How to Take a Deposition, 2006
Professional Associations and Memberships:
West Virginia State Bar
State Bar of Georgia
West Virginia Defense Research Institute
Past Employment Positions:
St. Paul Insurance Co., Staff Counsel, 2000 - 2002
Pullin, Knopf, Fowler & Flanagan, Associate, 1997 - 2000
Chambers, Mabry, McClelland & Brooks (Atlanta, GA), Associate, 1990 - 1996
Goodwin & Goodwin, Charleston, West Virginia, Associate, 1989 - 1990
Pro Bono Activities:
Gabriel Project
Salvation Army
National MS Society
Habitat For Humanity
