(304) 523-2100 Huntington, WV

With more than 30 years in practice focused on healthcare, employment law, professional licensure defense, and commercial litigation, Charlotte H. Norris works hard with and for her clients. She is an esteemed member of the West Virginia and Kentucky bars as a healthcare and employment lawyer in West Virginia as well as an experienced advocate in professional licensure defense.  

Charlotte graduated with High Honors from Agnes Scott College, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Mortar Board Society. She then attended Washington and Lee University School of Law, where she was appointed to serve as Co-Director of the Western State Hospital Legal Aid Society.

While a law student and following her admission to the West Virginia bar in 1990, Charlotte began her legal career in Huntington at Jenkins Fenstermaker, first in the business section and then in litigation, devoting her attention to healthcare and commercial clients. From the beginning, her practice areas included professional malpractice as well as employment law and naturally evolved to include compliance issues, insurance coverage, product liability, and professional licensure defense. She also has provided guidance to clients on special education law in West Virginia (addressing disabilities and exceptionalities), including in higher education settings. In 2015, she obtained her licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and today she provides counsel and litigation advocacy in both states.

Throughout her career, Charlotte has assisted and continues to assist healthcare providers and other industry employers with compliance issues, policy and contract development, human resource counseling and training, and employee benefits. She has also served as retained counsel for municipalities and municipal boards regarding both litigation and employment matters.

Charlotte has lectured to professional groups in multiple areas of healthcare and employment law as well as on issues involving professional liability, provider-patient communications, health information management, and psychiatric forensics. She has published articles on psychiatric malpractice, medical monitoring, the privacy standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).

Charlotte’s peers recognized her professional experience by honoring her as the Best Lawyers® 2018 Litigation – ERISA “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, WV’s metropolitan area, an honor she also received in 2016. She received her first recognition in Best Lawyers in 2008 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and has been recognized every year since, including in Health Care Law (since 2016), in Litigation – ERISA (since 2011), and in Employment Law Management (since 2013). In addition to her Best Lawyer recognitions, Chambers U.S.A. recognized her in the area of Employment Litigation in 2016, and she earned a peer rating of Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished for High Professional Achievement in 2016.

Outside of the office, Charlotte devotes time and energy to her son, his school, and their dogs. Charlotte has also been involved in serving her community. She volunteers with and has served in leadership of Facing Hunger Food Bank, which serves 27 counties in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, and is a board officer of the Prestera Center for Mental Health Services, Inc., the largest community mental healthcare provider in West Virginia. In 2021, the West Virginia Bar recognized her in its “More Than A Lawyer” program for her community service efforts.

When she has a few moments to herself, Charlotte enjoys reading, swimming, taking long walks, and needlepoint. She also is attempting to teach herself to play the banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, and guitar.

Charlotte believes that in a world of great change, we must embrace the diversity of all individuals around us. Personally, and professionally, she sees our differences as the means for meeting each new challenge.

 

Professional and Community Activities:

American Bar Association

The West Virginia State Bar

Cabell County Bar Association

Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (DTCWV)

  • Business/Commercial Law Substantive Committee
  • Employment Substantive Law Committee
  • Chair, 2010 to 2011
  • Vice Chair, 2009 to 2010
  • Insurance Law Substantive Law Committee
  • Medical Liability Substantive Law Committee
  • Product Liability Substantive Law Committee
  • Professional Liability/Ethics Substantive Law Committee
  • Workers’ Compensation Substantive Law Committee

West Virginia Supreme Court Business Court Roundtable

Kentucky Bar Association

American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2010 to 2012

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

Defense Research Institute (DRI)

Facing Hunger Food Bank, Volunteer, 2014 to Present

  • President, 2020
  • First Vice President, 2019
  • Second Vice President, 2018
  • Governance Committee, 2017 to Present
  • Board Member, 2014 to Present
  • Education Committee, 2014 to 2015

Ronald McDonald House Charities, Huntington, WV, Volunteer 2021 to Present

Harmony House, Volunteer 2021

Hospice of Huntington, Inc.

  • Board of Directors, 1991 to 1996, 1997 to 2003
  • Ethics Committee, 1997 to 2003
  • Chairman, 1995, 1996
  • Treasurer, 1993, 1994

Huntington Museum of Art

  • Museum Accessibility Committee, 2003 to 2007

Leadership West Virginia, Class of 2016

League of Women Voters, 2014 to Present

Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church

  • Hospitality Ministry, 2006 to 2012
  • Lazarus Ministry, 2006 to 2012

Prestera Centers for Mental Health Services

  • Board Member, 2016 to Present
  • Vice-Chair, 2023

St. Joseph Parish, Member, 2009 to Present

St. Joseph Catholic School

  • Parent Teacher Organization (Grade School), 2009 to Present
  • VEX IQ Middle School Team Co-Mentor 2021 to 2022

St. Mary’s Medical Center

Autism Services Center

  • Board of Directors, 1997 to 2001

Hospital Hospitality House of Huntington, Inc. (now St. Mary’s Hospitality House)

  • Board of Directors, 1994 to 1995

St. John’s Free Clinic, Inc.

  • Board of Directors, 1993

Leadership Tri-State, 1993

Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, Firm Member

West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Firm Member

West Virginia Women’s Education Forum, Executive Committee

Presentations and Publications: 

Co-Presenter and Author, “HIPAA Privacy Standard, HITECH Amendments and Documentation,” Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, West Virginia (September 2015)

Presenter and Co-Author, “Privacy Issues and Production of Medical Records—A Review of State and Federal Law,” West Virginia Mental Health & the Law Seminar, PESI, Charleston, West Virginia (August 2015)

“Employment Verification: What Employers Need to Know About I-9 Compliance and E-Verify,” Fundamentals of Employment Law Seminar, Sterling Education Services, Huntington, West Virginia (June 2014)

“The Nuts and Bolts of Employment Law Claims: Getting Started—Bringing the Claims/Defending the Claims,” National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia (March 2014)

Presenter and Co-Author, “Privacy Issues and Production of Medical Records,” West Virginia Mental Health & the Law Seminar, Health Education Network, LLC, Charleston, West Virginia (August 2013)

“Psychiatric Management versus Chemical Restraints: A Review of State and Federal Regulations,” River Park Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia (April 2012)

“‘How Do I Keep From Being Sued?’ Pondering An Employer’s Legal Dilemmas,” United Way Directors’ Association Meeting, Huntington, West Virginia (January 2011)

“Insurance Claims Handling and the West Virginia Human Rights Act: What to Expect if the June 11, 2010 Decision in Michael v. Appalachian Heating, LLC Stands,” Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia-Insurance Law Committee (September 2010)

“Navigating Turbulent Waters: A Discussion of Employment Law from a Defense Perspective,” Tri-State Day Care Directors’ Association Seminar, Huntington, West Virginia (May 2010)

Co-Author, “Employment Law Update - March 2009-March 2010,” Defense Trial Counsel West Virginia Annual Notebook of Articles (May 2010)

“A Primer on Advance Directives,” River Park Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia (December 2006)

“EMTALA in the 21st Century: The Cornerstone of Care for Uninsured and Underinsured,” DRI For the Defense Vol. 47, No. 11 (November 2005)

Co-Presenter, “Complying With the New HIPAA Standards: What West Virginia Paralegals Need to Know,” Institute for Paralegal Education, Charleston, West Virginia (October 2004)

“Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Fold ‘Em, Know When to Walk Away, Know When to Run: Employment Risk Management Issues for Health Care Professionals,” C.E. Alliance Seminar, Huntington, West Virginia (July 2004)

Co-Author, “Aided in Agency Relationship Doctrine: How Narrow is the Opening to Pandora’s Box of Employer Vicarious Liability?,” International Assoc. of Defense Counsel Employment Law Newsletter (June 2004)

Co-Author, “The Privacy Standards Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: A Practical Guide to Promote Order and Avoid Potential Chaos” West Virginia Law Review Volume 106, Number 3 (Spring 2004)

Co-Presenter, “The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: A Practical Guide to Promote Order and Avoid Potential Chaos” West Virginia Continuing Legal Education, Charleston, West Virginia (April 29, 2004)

Co-Presenter, “An Update on Employment Law for the West Virginia Employer,” Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, Huntington, West Virginia (March 2004)

“The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for West Virginia Lawyers,” Mercer County Bar Association, Princeton, West Virginia (January 2004)

“Forensics: A Primer,” River Park Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia (January 2004)

Co-Presenter, “The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for West Virginia Judicial System: A Practical Guide to Promote Order and Avoid Potential Chaos,” West Virginia Fall Judicial Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia (October 2003)

“Answering the Wake-Up Call: Managing the Troubled or Impaired Professional,” Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, L.C. Firm Retreat Seminar, (November 2002)

“The Privacy Provisions of HIPAA—Understanding Their Language: Medical Terminology in West Virginia,” Lorman Business Center Inc. Seminar, Charleston, West Virginia (December 2001)

“The Discovery Process—Understanding Their Language: Medical Terminology in West Virginia,” Lorman Business Center Inc. Seminar, Charleston, West Virginia (December 2001)

“Medical Monitoring Claims in West Virginia—50 State Survey of Medical Monitoring: A Report of the Pharmaceuticals and Biologicals Subcommittee of the Product Liability Committee,” American Bar Association – Litigation Section (November 2001)

“Physician Risk Management: End of Life Decision Making,” Marshall University Medical School Residency Program, Huntington, West Virginia (January 2000)

“Physician Risk Management: Physician/Patient Communications,” Marshall University Medical School Residency Program, Huntington, West Virginia (September 1999)

“Physician Risk Management: Physician/Patient Communications,” Marshall University Medical School Residency Program, Huntington, West Virginia (September 1997)

“Confidentiality: Managing Health Information in a Changing Environment,” Medical Legal Update 1997, Lorman Business Center, Inc. Seminar, Huntington, West Virginia (September 1997)

“Mandatory Reporting of Elder and Child Abuse,” Medical Legal Update 1997, Lorman Business Center, Inc. Seminar, Huntington, West Virginia (September 1997)

Co-Author, “Psychiatric Malpractice: Defense Considerations When the Patient Commits Suicide,” International Assoc. of Defense Counsel Medical Negligence Newsletter (July 1997)

“Legal Issues in Mental Health Care: The Hospital as Acute Care Center and Committing Facility,” St. Mary’s Hospital of Huntington, Inc. (November 1996)

Co-Presenter, “Sexual Harassment: How to Avoid the ‘Hostile Work Environment’,” Ashland (Kentucky) Dental Society (February 1996)

Co-Presenter, “Medical Malpractice: Primary Care Malpractice- Lay and Nursing Staff Issues,” Marshall University Medical School Residency Program, Huntington, West Virginia (September 1995)

Co-Presenter, “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” Cabell County (West Virginia) Dental Society (February 1995)

“Legal Issues in Mental Health Care,” River Park Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia (November 1994)

“Confidentiality of Medical Records,” Panel Discussion, Lorman Business Center, Inc. Seminar, Huntington, West Virginia (April 1992)

Recognitions and Awards:

The Best Lawyers in America©, 2016 and 2018 Litigation – ERISA “Lawyer of the Year” in the Charleston, WV metropolitan area

The Best Lawyers in America© in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2018 to 2019

The Best Lawyers in America© in Health Care Law, 2016 to 2019

The Best Lawyers in America© in Litigation – ERISA, 2011 to 2019

The Best Lawyers in America© in Employment Law Management, 2013 to 2019

Chambers U.S.A.- Employment Litigation, 2016

Women Lawyers of the Year for West Virginia, 2016

Past Employment:

Member, Farrell, White & Legg PLLC, 2011 to 2016

Member, Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, PLLC, 2003 to 2011

General Counsel, River Park Hospital, 2001 to 2003

Member, Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, L.C., 1998 to 2000

Associate, Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, L.C.,1995 to 1997

Associate, Jenkins, Fenstermaker, Krieger, Kayes, & Farrell, 1990 to 1995

Law Clerk, Jenkins, Fenstermaker, Krieger, Kayes, & Farrell, 1989

Practice Areas

  • Business and Commercial: Contract Negotiation, Drafting, and Review
  • Business and Commercial: Employer/Employee Issues
  • Business and Commercial: Ongoing Counsel
  • Business and Commercial: Regulatory Compliance
  • Labor and Employment: Compliance
  • Labor and Employment: Employee Benefits
  • Labor and Employment: Employment Litigation
  • Labor and Employment: Human Resources Counseling and Training
  • Labor and Employment: Labor-Management Relations
  • Labor and Employment: Negotiation and Counsel
  • Litigation: Commercial Litigation Defense
  • Litigation: Insurance Coverage
  • Litigation: Insurance Defense
  • Litigation: Mediation and Arbitration
  • Litigation: Medical Malpractice Defense
  • Litigation: Product Liability
  • Professional Licensure Defense
  • Appellate Advocacy

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