Member | Chair, Chemical, Medical Monitoring, Product Liability Litigation, and Toxic Tort Litigation Practice Groups | Co-Chair, The Battle Group
Charleston, WV
office 304.340.3844
Mr. Kinney’s primary areas of practice are toxic torts, chemical exposure (including benzene, C-8, carbon black and perchloroethylene), class actions, mass torts, general litigation, construction litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1992
  • University of San Diego School of Law, Summer Program in Paris, France
  • American University, B.A., with honors, 1988
  • American University, Semester in Bonn, Germany

Experience

  • Defending nationwide, regional and local class actions in environmental, toxic tort, chemical exposure and consumer cases, including air and water emissions
  • Defending and pursuing construction claims
  • Litigating cases of employer deliberate intent, wrongful death and catastrophic injury
  • Representing clients in insurance coverage disputes, including declaratory judgment actions for determination of coverage and claims against payment and performance bonds
  • Former American Arbitration Association neutral

Distinctions

  • Distinguished™ Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Named the Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Construction in Charleston, W.Va., 2024
  • Nominated by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Litigation – Construction and Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Defendants
  • West Virginia State Bar's Mediator Training Courses
  • University of Virginia School of Law, National Trial Advocacy College

Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • Virginia State Bar
  • West Virginia State Bar
  • United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia

Memberships

  • Co-Chair, Products Liability Litigation Committee, American Bar Association, 2021 - present
  • Member, Planning Committee of the American Bar Association, Products Liability Committee
  • Past Chair, Membership Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee and Chemical Products Subcommittee of the American Bar Association, Products Liability Committee
  • American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry
  • West Virginia Bar Association
  • Virginia Bar Association

Publications & Presentations

  • Contributing author, Construction Checklist: A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues, Second Edition, American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, 2022
  • Panelist, “Products Liability Year in Review,” ABA Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts and Products Liability Litigation Joint CLE Seminar, January 2019
  • Editor and Contributing Author, “Toxic Exposure Claims; A Fifty-State Survey,” ABA Publication, 2016
  • Author, "Construction Checklists - A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues," ABA Publication, 2008
  • Author, "Issues in Construction Bidding," West Virginia Executive, Fall 2006
  • Contributor, "W. Va. Law," Design-Build Deskbook, ABA Publication, 2004
  • Moderator, "Panel Discussion on Recent Trends in Environmental, Toxic Tort, and Mass Tort Cases," 7th Annual Regional Seminar, ABA Section of Litigation, Spring 2013
  • Moderator, 4th Annual Regional Seminar, ABA Section of Litigation, Fall 2009

Community Involvement

  • Election Commissioner, 2020 General Election
  • FIFA pre-registered soccer agent
  • Kanawha-Charleston Soccer Foundation Board Member and South Hills Soccer Association Past President
  • Past President, Charleston Chapter, University of Virginia Alumni Association
  • Past Chair, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Independent Scholarship Committee
  • Blessed Sacrament Parish