McCarthy

Wheeling lawyer T. C. McCarthy Jr. received the highest award given by the West Virginia Association for Justice during the recent Annual Seminar and Convention in Charleston.

McCarthy was awarded the “2019 Fred H. Caplan Award,” which was given “in recognition for his extraordinary and outstanding service to West Virginia, its people, and the state’s civil justice system.”

The award is named for former Supreme Court Justice Fred H. Caplan, who served on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from 1962-80. The Association recognized McCarthy, like Caplan, for his outstanding legal career, and his public service to the state, its residents and the civil justice system.

McCarthy is a partner in the Law Firm of Gompers, McCarthy & McClure of Wheeling. For 48 years, McCarthy has maintained a general practice of law, primarily concentrating in civil litigation representing injured individuals, commercial businesses and corporations in civil jury and non-jury trials, arbitration, mediation, and in real estate matters, estate planning, wills and trusts, and probate law.

He has extensive experience in representing West Virginia municipal governments in all facets of the law, including Public Service Commission proceedings, administrative hearings, negotiation of franchise agreements, water and sewer system development contracts, the drafting of complicated municipal ordinances, zoning and building code documents, and state and federal environmental protection administrative matters, hearings and litigation.

In the past, he has served as city solicitor for Wellsburg, attorney for the Wellsburg Sanitary Board, assistant city solicitor for Wheeling, and village solicitor for Bethlehem.

In addition to his private law practice, McCarthy was appointed as a judge of the West Virginia Court of Claims in 2011 by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, based upon the recommendation of the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors. He served as judge for six years until 2017.

McCarthy graduated from Gettysburg College in 1967 with a B.A. Degree in economics, and was also a member of Pi Lambda Sigma National Business/Economics Honor Society. In 1971, he graduated from West Virginia University College of Law.

He is a past member of the Rotary and Serra Clubs of Wheeling, served as a Campaign Fundraising Chairman for the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, and is Past President of the Wheeling Gyro Club.

On the national level, McCarthy has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for 30 years, and has received numerous national awards for his educational contributions, and dedicated and diligent service to the association. He continues to serve as a member of the Board of Governors, and as a member of the Stalwarts Hall of Fame Committee.