Karen T. McElhinny

Karen T. McElhinny is a member and owner at Shuman McCuskey Slicer PLLC, where she defends healthcare providers, public entities, professionals, and businesses in complex civil litigation, lawsuits and disputes. She joined the firm in 1997, became a member in 2003, and became an owner in 2014. Her work includes medical malpractice defense and litigation involving cities, towns, counties, state agencies, and private employers. She has represented institutional and professional clients in disputes involving significant liability and regulatory concerns.

Ms. McElhinny earned her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law. She participated in Moot Court, served on the Executive Moot Court Board, and worked with the Alderson Legal Assistance Clinic. She earned her B.A., with distinction, from the University of Virginia, where she completed a double major in English and Sociology. Her law school honors recognized significant contributions to the Moot Court program and the Alderson Legal Clinic.

Ms. McElhinny practices in medical malpractice, professional liability, general litigation, business litigation, construction litigation, employment matters, long-term care litigation, and public entity disputes. Her experience includes appellate matters, arbitration and mediation, and architect and engineering liability. She is admitted in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland, along with several federal courts and the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Karen T. McElhinny brings extensive defense experience to litigation involving healthcare providers, municipalities, employers, and other organizations. Her professional memberships include the West Virginia Bar Association, Kanawha County Bar Association, Winchester-Frederick County Bar Association, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, Defense Research Institute, and Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. She has written and presented on medical malpractice, governmental liability, public records, healthcare issues, and related litigation topics.

Law Office Affiliations

• Member, Shuman McCuskey Slicer PLLC
• Member, West Virginia Bar Association
• Member, Kanawha County Bar Association
• Member, Winchester-Frederick County Bar Association
• Member, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys

Licensed State

• West Virginia
• Virginia
• Maryland

Education

• Washington and Lee University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Virginia
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges