John C. Palmer

• Member, Robinson & McElwee, 1983-present
• Managing Partner of Personnel, Robinson & McElwee, 1983-1986
• Chair, Litigation Department, Robinson & McElwee, 2001-2002
• Partnership Chair, Robinson & McElwee, 1997-1998
• Professional Responsibility Partner, Robinson & McElwee, 1992-present
• Partner, Love, Wise, Robinson & Woodroe, 1976-1983
• Partner, James, Wise, Robinson & Magnuson, 1971-1975
• Associate, Law Office of Andrew J. Goodwin, 1970-1971

Mr. Palmer is a trial lawyer with a practice focused exclusively on litigation, primarily involving complex cases and class actions.

With more than 40 years of experience, Mr. Palmer has tried numerous civil and criminal cases in federal and state courts and has argued appeals before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Mr. Palmer is a fourth-generation lawyer and was one of seven founding partners of Robinson & McElwee in 1983.

During his tenure with Robinson & McElwee, Mr. Palmer has served as Managing Partner of Personnel, Litigation Department Chair, Partnership Chair and Professional Responsibility Partner.

Mr. Palmer has handed a wide variety of cases for both plaintiffs and defendants, including accidents, administrative proceedings and appeals, admiralty, anti-trust violations, asbestos exposure, assault and battery, catastrophic property damage, coal mining, commercial litigation, construction disputes, consumer claims, conversion, copyright infringement, defamation, eminent domain, environmental contamination, ERISA, false arrest and imprisonment, Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), fidelity bonds, industrial accidents, injunctions, insurance bad faith, insurance claims and disputes, interference with business relations, judgment enforcements, labor disputes, lender liability, libel, loan defaults, malicious prosecution, mechanic’s lien enforcement, medical malpractice, oil and gas matters, patent infringement, payment and performance bonds, personal injury, pollution claims, predatory lending, premises liability, products liability, railroad accidents, real property disputes, securities fraud, settlement enforcement, slander, toxic torts, warranty claims, workers’ compensation, workplace accidents, wrongful death, usury, white collar crimes and zoning disputes.

Mr. Palmer represents clients across many industries, including banking, construction, insurance, manufacturing, mining, retail trade, and utilities.  Additionally, Mr. Palmer has served as local counsel in West Virginia federal and state courts for law firms across the country.

A fully trained mediator, Mr. Palmer has settled more than 1,000 cases on behalf of his clients during his career.