Harry Deitzler

Mr. Deitzler's biographical information below includes reference to specific and cumulative case results of the past and should not be misconstrued as any indication that a future client or case will have a similar outcome. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Past case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case undertaken by Harry Deitzler or this law firm.

Harry Deitzler has been a practicing trial attorney since 1976. He is currently Of Counsel for the law firm of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC, Mr. Deitzler's primary field of legal concentration is representation of people in cases involving severe personal injury or death arising from car, truck or motorcycle collision, negligence, defective product, unsafe workplace, natural gas explosion, ground water contamination, and other preventable accidents. Some of Mr. Deitzler's cases have also been significant class actions. Mr. Deitzler also represents clients who are victims of insurance company abuse or misconduct, and persons who have been harmed by professional malpractice.

Mr. Deitzler's success for clients in serious motor vehicle and insurance cases is complimented by substantial recoveries in cases against manufacturers of defective automobiles, paint containers, swimming pools, augers, boom trucks, ATVs, industrial equipment, and other dangerous or defective products. In addition, Mr. Deitzler has achieved substantial recoveries for employees who have been injured due to corporate negligence, including natural gas explosions, electric explosions, mechanical dangers, the company's failure to observe basic safety rules, and the company's failure to properly train or equip the injured worker and/ or co-workers.

Mr. Deitzler owns and rides motorcycles, and has frequently served as motorcycle attorney for injured riders. As a West Virginia motorcycle lawyer and motorcycle rider, Mr. Deitzler is particularly interested in helping people who suffer injury as a result of motorcycle crashes. For ten years, Mr. Deitzler authored the Motorcycle Justice column for Motorcycle Consumer News.

Mr. Deitzler and the Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC law firm have devoted significant resources to neuro-law and the representation of individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injury. As West Virginia brain injury lawyers, more than half of all Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC clients (excepting class action cases) are the victim of brain injury at one level or another. In that regard, Mr. Deitzler has taught and lectured regarding brain injury litigation techniques including such brain injury topics as: Deposition of the Defendant's Biochemical Engineering Expert (NCA-Dallas TX), Direct and Cross Examination of the Neuropsychologist (NCA-Aspen, CO), and Brain Injury Cases on a Budget (Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY).

In addition, Mr. Deitzler has taught and lectured regarding other aspects of litigation, including: Deposition of the Defendant's Biomechanical Engineering Expert (NCA-Dallas, TX); How to Make the Most Out of Depositions (American Association for Justice-WVU Law School); Alternative Dispute Resolution: What's Happening in the Federal District Courts (NCA-Breckenridge, CO); Elimination of Court Backlog and Delays by the Use of ADR, Mediation, Telephonic Hearings, and Other Techniques (West Virginia State Bar Annual Meeting-Charleston, WV); Law Office Management with Computers: Hardware, Office Software, CD ROM, Internet (WVAJ-Charleston, WV); How to Settle a Small Claim (Arkansas TLA-Fayetteville, AK); Jury Selection and the Legal Assistant's Role (WVAJ-Charleston, WV); Insurance Bad Faith Claims in West Virginia (Lorman-Charleston, WV); and the Psychology of Persuasion (West Virginia University/State Bar- Canaan Valley, WV).

Mr. Deitzler and his partners were recognized as "Trial Lawyers of the Year" by the nation's public interest law organization Public Justice for work in a precedent setting case involving recovery for victims of C8 groundwater pollution by corporate giant Dupont in areas surrounding Parkersburg, West Virginia. That settlement, valued in excess of $300 million, resulted in cleanup of six community water systems and the creation of the largest, most in depth, medically verified, community health study in history. Affected residents are entitled to all necessary medical testing, as established by the study, paid for by Dupont. In addition, any class member whose medical problems are found to be caused by the pollutant chemical (perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as C-8 or C8) had the right to make claims for full damages from Dupont in further related civil actions. As a result of his work in the Dupont C-8/PFOA case, Mr. Deitzler was invited to serve as co-chairman of the national Mealeys C-8/PFOA Science, Risks & Litigation Conference at Philadelphia, PA October 24 and 25, 2005.

While his primary litigation focus is upon helping personal injury victims, Mr. Deitzler occasionally handles high profile criminal defense cases. His record of defending high-profile individuals began September 25, 1989 when the lead story in the Miami Herald described Deitzler's defense of a DEA agent accused of money laundering. Subsequently, he successfully represented a nurse accused of murdering her abusive boyfriend (the prosecutor later apologized for indicting her), the secretary of a West Virginia Attorney General who was accused by the Attorney General of extorting money (charges were dismissed and the attorney general resigned), and multiple political figures including two state senators, two mayors, two sheriffs, several attorneys, and two circuit judges.

Mr. Deitzler received his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University in 1973, followed by a law degree from West Virginia University in 1976. He was certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in 1991. Mr. Deitzler has served as an appointed member of the West Virginia Access to Justice Commission and is currently a board member of the West Virginia Association for Justice. He is a sustaining member of the American Association for Justice and past president of Public Justice, a national non-profit public interest law foundation with offices in Washington, D.C. and Oakland, California. Deitzler is past president of the West Virginia State Bar. In addition, he is a former member of the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the Melvin M. Belli Society. Mr. Deitzler has been named in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Deitzler received substantial trial experience as the Prosecuting Attorney for Wood County at Parkersburg, West Virginia. As the state's attorney, he presented nearly 100 cases to trial juries. In the Parkersburg community, Mr. Deitzler served as the second president of the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival, founder and president of the Parkersburg area "Just Say No" Committee, board member of the Wood County Sheriff's Advisory Committee under sheriffs Lee Bechtold and Jeff Sandy, member and president of the Parkersburg Area Salvation Army Advisory Board, board member of the Wood County Senior Citizens Association, board member of the Wood County Society, board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, board member and Paul Harris Fellow for the Parkersburg Rotary Club, volunteer instructor for the Wood County Fire School, and volunteer instructor at Glendale Gym Club. Mr. Deitzler is a 40+ year member of River City Runners and Walkers Club, Wood County Farm Bureau, the Parkersburg Moose Club, Ben Bey Grotto, and Ohio Valley Ski Club.

Mr. Deitzler served as president of the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney's Association from 1986 through 1988. At the conclusion of his state's attorney career in 1988, Mr. Deitzler was a Democratic candidate for the office of West Virginia Attorney General. He subsequently practiced at Preiser Law Offices (Charleston) for two years working with brain injury victims and representing injured individuals on product liability and insurance claims. Mr. Deitzler joined the law firm of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC as a partner in 1991.

Harry and Kathe Deitzler live at 149 Bella Vista Drive in Vienna, West Virginia with their German Shepherds, Taunus and Inde. Kathe Deitzler is a retired registered nurse and most recently worked at Physicians Outpatient Surgery Center in Belpre. Kathe is also a credentialed interior design specialist. Together, Harry and Kathe created and funded Deitzler Foundation, Inc. in 2001 to provide assistance to qualified charities, churches, schools, and local government projects.

Harry and Kathe are the proud parents of two children: Erin and Brad. Erin was formerly employed as a counselor for Williamstown High School in Wood County, West Virginia. She currently serves as a certified professional counselor at New Day Therapy on College Parkway. Brad is a West Virginia attorney and lives in Morgantown with his wife Jamie who recently graduated from WVU Law School.

Please feel free to contact Harry on days, nights or weekends:

Office Telephone - Toll Free: (800) 822-5667, Ext. 6023

Office Telephone - Local: (304) 345-5667, Ext. 6023

Office Fax: (304) 345-1519

Home Telephone - (304) 295-6977