Ms. Vital is a Hurricane, West Virginia native and lifetime resident of West Virginia. After graduating from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Ms. Vital worked as a pharmacist while attending the West Virginia University College of Law. Following her graduation from the West Virginia University College of Law, Ms. Vital settled in Huntington, West Virginia, where she was the Director of Pharmacy for Riverpark Hospital. Thereafter, Ms. Vital began her legal career at the firm. As a West Virginia licensed pharmacist and multi-state licensed lawyer, Ms. Vital has established a role in complex medical malpractice litigation that sets her apart from other legal advisors. As a clinician attorney, Ms. Vital is uniquely positioned in the legal profession and uses her extensive background, experience and talents to focus on strategic case development and expert analysis. She has developed a methodology to identify the most highly credentialed and qualified experts to support the firm’s clients in their time of need. She utilizes her strengths as a seasoned complex litigation specialist to format and develop the firm’s most successful defense tactics.
Practice Areas:
- Medical Malpractice
- Insurance Defense
- Mass Tort Defense
- Environmental Law
- Toxic Torts Defense
- Premises Liability
- General Negligence
- Pharmacy Liability
Education:
- JURIS DOCTORATE, West Virginia University College of Law, 1993
- Invitation – West Virginia Law Review
- Vice-President, Student Bar Association
- Member, Student Bar Association’s Charities Committee
- BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, West Virginia School of Pharmacy, 1989
Honors, Awards, Services:
- Social Chairperson, American Society of Pharmacy
- Member, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity
- Recipient, West Virginia Achievement Scholarship
- Recipient, Kanawha Valley Foundation Scholarship
- Recipient, Rite Aid Scholarship
- Member, Alpha Phi Omega, National Service Fraternity
- Member, Golden Key National Honor Society
Licenses:
- West Virginia, 1994
- Kentucky, 1997
Court Admissions:
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
- United States District Court, Southern District of West Virginia
- All West Virginia Circuit and Magistrate Courts
- Kentucky Supreme Court
- Kentucky Court of Appeals
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
- All Kentucky Circuit and District Courts
Professional Affiliations:
- West Virginia State Bar
- West Virginia Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- West Virginia Defense Trial Counsel
- Cabell County, West Virginia Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- West Virginia Pharmaceutical Association
Community Service:
- Secretary, West Virginia University Alumni Chapter, Cabell County Chapter
Successes:
- Successfully defended a coal mine owner/operator in a case filed by 83 plaintiffs (represented by five different law firms) alleging property damage, personal injury, nuisance and well water damage. Following a one week mediation, Ms. Vital obtained a dismissal of the personal injury and well water damage claims. She defended the case through a seven week trial culminating in a favorable result for the defendant.
- Successfully defended an anesthesiologist accused of malpractice involving an aspiration and alleged permanent injury. This case resulted in a defense verdict.
- Successfully defended a gynecologist accused of failure to diagnose and treat endometriosis through a three day trial resulting in a defense verdict.
- Successfully defended an obstetrician accused of negligence in the treatment of a pregnant patient who delivered at 24 weeks gestation, resulting in fetal demise. The case was tried over two weeks and resulted in a defense verdict.
- Successfully defended an obstetrician accused of negligence in the treatment of the delivery of a newborn who sustained a shoulder dystocia at birth. The case was tried over four days and resulted in a directed verdict.
- Successfully defended through trial an orthopedic surgeon accused of negligence in his treatment of a patient’s broken leg. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
- Successfully defended through trial an obstetrician accused of malpractice involving the premature delivery of triplets resulting in the death of one triplet and injuries to the other triplets. The case was tried over ten days and resulted in a defense verdict.