BENJAMIN M. MISHOE
Ben joined Shaffer & Shaffer PLLC in the summer of 2008. His practice originally focused on insurance coverage and bad faith litigation issues, as well as defending other civil litigation. Gradually his practice has shifted to representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, and similar matters. During this time he has continually maintained a criminal defense practice, serving those criminal defendants who cannot afford representation. Ben also routinely serves as guardian ad litem for children in cases of abuse and neglect, and as appointed counsel for parents facing these allegations.
Ben regularly assists Charlie Piccirillo as a mediator in large-scale mediations throughout West Virginia. These mediations often require several days and involve a multitude of parties and complex liability, damage, and coverage issues. He serves independently as a mediator in Boone County at the request of the Circuit Court, often in cases involving pro se litigants.
Prior to joining Shaffer & Shaffer PLLC, Ben served two years as law clerk to the Honorable James J. Rowe, Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia serving Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties. In this capacity, he assisted in a wide variety of judicial functions. He was chiefly in charge of researching and drafting orders and memoranda and participated in criminal, civil, administrative, and family court hearings, appeals, and trials.
Ben graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia University in 2003, with a B.S. in business administration and minors in political science and communication studies. He was awarded his doctor of jurisprudence from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2006, where he had the privilege of serving as a student-attorney in the WVU College of Law Clinical Law Program. This program provides legal assistance to individuals who do not qualify for court-appointed counsel but cannot afford to hire an attorney. Ben was the only member of his graduating class to appear before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals prior to graduation. As a third-year law student, he successfully represented the State of West Virginia in the appeal of a criminal prosecution on behalf of the Attorney General’s office.
Ben is admitted to practice before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia and resides in Charleston with his wife Julia.