Hon. John F. McCuskey

John F. McCuskey is a co-founder of Shuman McCuskey Slicer PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia. His practice includes professional negligence defense, energy and mineral litigation, business litigation, environmental matters, and alternative dispute resolution. McCuskey also serves as an arbitrator, mediator, and expert witness, drawing on decades of litigation and judicial experience to help businesses, professionals, insurers, and individuals address complex disputes in state and federal forums.

McCuskey earned his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1973, a B.S.E.E. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970, and a B.S. from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1969. West Virginia Wesleyan later awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2022. His legal and technical education supports a practice involving professional liability, commercial disputes, natural resources, and matters requiring careful analysis of complex factual and regulatory issues.

McCuskey’s career includes service in the West Virginia State Legislature, as West Virginia Commissioner of Finance and Administration, and as the 70th Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Before joining the firm in 1999, he spent a decade handling product liability and insurance defense trials. His later practice has included professional malpractice, coal and gas matters, commercial litigation, and arbitration and mediation involving business, engineering, environmental, insurance, and product liability disputes.

John F. McCuskey is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He has also been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, including the 2027 edition for arbitration, mediation, commercial litigation, appellate practice, natural resources, oil and gas, and professional malpractice defense. McCuskey has served as president of the West Virginia Bar Association and has received honors from Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.

Law Office Affiliations

• Co-Founder, Shuman McCuskey Slicer PLLC
• President, West Virginia Bar Association, 2003
• Member, American Bar Association

Licensed State

• West Virginia

Education

• West Virginia University College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Pennsylvania
  Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
• West Virginia Wesleyan College
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges