John R. Hoblitzell

Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC, Charleston, USA

John R. Hoblitzell is a member of the firm's Insurance/Litigation and Aternative Dispute Resolution Practice Groups, and Chair of the Litigation Committee. In addition to the West Virginia State Bar and the American Bar Association, he is a member of ABA/TIPS and the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia. Mr. Hoblitzell has been named as one of The Best Lawyers In America.

Mr. Hoblitzell was appointed by the Governor as a member of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in 2000 and was selected in July, 2000, as the first Chair of the Commission for a two-year term. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University System of West Virginia from 1989 to 2000 having been appointed by the Governor. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1993 to 1995. Mr. Hoblitzell was elected as a Delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention, and served as the community representative on the Board of Directors of Carelink, Inc., a West Virginia based HMO from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Hoblitzell was a member of the West Virginia Legislature from 1985 to 1988 where he served as minority chair of the House Judiciary Committee. He is a former member of the Board of Governors and a past President of the West Virginia University Alumni Association.

He graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in Economics in 1970, and received his J. D. degree from the WVU College of Law in 1973. He was a member of the West Virginia Law Review from 1972 to 1973. Admitted to practice in 1973 in West Virginia, Mr. Hoblitzell practices in all of the state and federal courts in West Virginia, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. He has also appeared in matters in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Mr. Hoblitzell's practice is primarily in civil litigation with an emphasis in products liability, construction, insurance bad faith, and wrongful discharge claims. He has also been involved in contested administrative proceedings before state agencies.

Additionally, Mr. Hoblitzell is on the board of directors for Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. and CAMC Health System where he serves on the finance and executive commitees. He is a member of the John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court.