Executive Council

Mr. Peyton has been practicing law for nearly 33 years. His area of practice is very diverse, however his emphasis lies within courtroom litigation and the careful development of major injury and death claims. Mr. Peyton believes that it is his and every firm member's obligation to provide first-rate representation to every client.

Areas of Practice

Courtroom Litigation

Bar Admissions

West Virginia, 1974

U.S. Federal Court, 1974

Education

West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1974 Honors: Order of the Coif

Law Review: West Virginia Law Review, Editor West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia B.A. - 1971

Honors and Awards

2004 Recipient of the Kathie C. Peyton Volunteerism Award for outstanding non-profit volunteer work in the Kanawha Valley

Professional Associations and Memberships

Board of Governors, West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member

The Avampato Discovery Museum for the Arts and Sciences, Board of Directors

Board of Directors of the Putnam County Museum in the Community, Former Member

The Juliet Museum of Art Collectors Club, Member & Former President

West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Former President

Board of Directors of the Sunrise Museum, Former Board Member

Ms. French is a Partner in the firm’s Charleston office. She regularly advises employers as to the implementation of employment policies, provides training to employees, and conducts internal investigations on employee complaints. She has had a particular focus on discrimination claims, sexual harassment claims, and claims for wrongful discharge and retaliation.

As part of her work with employers, Ms. French has an active practice in construction litigation and claims for deliberate intent. Throughout her legal career, she has consistently practiced in the field of insurance defense litigation, including bad faith. Ms. French has also assisted employers with audits conducted by the Department of Labor and Wage and Hour Division.

She has focused a considerable part of her practice on assisting employers and credit unions with various employment issues and litigation arising under the Federal Credit Union Act and the West Virginia Consumer Credit Protection Act.

Ms. French has trial experience in both state and federal courts involving: workers’ compensation discrimination claims, deliberate intent, wage payment and collection cases, public policy claims, retaliatory discharge, trade secret protection, RIFs, restrictive covenants, transportation and trucking, and personal injury.

Specific examples of her work include: representing various trucking companies at trial throughout southern West Virginia; representing multi-national media and information firm at trial in a retaliatory discharge and wage payment and collection case; defending at trial a Forbes 200 Global Company specializing in robotics, and power and automation technology; defending companies at trial in cases involving allegations of OSHA and MSHA violations; and representing companies at trial in workers’ compensation discrimination and deliberate intent cases. In addition, Ms. French has handled trucking accidents and blasting cases.

Carte's practice includes litigation and appellate advocacy, as well as advising clients on government relations, intellectual property matters and commercial transactions.

After serving as general counsel to the West Virginia governor from 2005-2009, Carte returned to his family law practice Goodwin & Goodwin, which he initially joined in 2000. In July of 2010, Carte was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the passing of a U.S. senator. He is currently serving on the United States – China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Carte serves as the Member-in-Charge of FBT's Charleston office. He is also a principal of CivicPoint, the firm's subsidiary.

Representative Experience

Representing clients in appeals and civil litigation throughout West Virginia’s state and federal courts.

Representing clients in mass and class action litigation.

Representing clients in various commercial transactions as well as the formation and organization of business entities.

Representing clients in government affairs.

Representing clients in the preparation and registration of federal trademark applications, license agreements and intellectual property litigation.

Education

Marietta College, B.A., Philosophy, magna cum laude 1996

The Emory University School of Law, Doctor of Law, 1999; Order of the Coif, Executive Notes & Comments Editor, Emory International Law Review, Authored “Live, In Concert and Beyond: A New Standard of Contributory Copyright Infringement.” 13 Emory Int’l L. Rev. 345 (1999).

Tracey Eberling focuses her practice in the areas of labor and employment law and litigation, with a concentration in the defense of institutions, professionals, insurance companies and governmental entities. Ms. Eberling has tried numerous cases in the trial courts of Maryland and West Virginia, and has argued cases in the appellate courts of both states as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is a member of the firm's General Litigation group, the Professional Liability and Long Term Care group and the Education Law team.

Key Experience

Defended employers in wage payment and collection and retaliation claims

Defended local law enforcement agency and officers in civil rights litigation

Sought dismissal of premises liability action for national retailer and a local board of education

Memberships & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America®

Defense Research Institute

Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia

Chair, Pro Bono Committee, Washington County Bar Association

Volunteer of the Year, Martinsburg-Berkeley Chamber of Commerce 2006

Chairman, Board of Directors, Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce

Immediate Past President, Board of Directors, Martinsburg-Berkeley Chamber of Commerce

Past President, Board of Directors, United Way of the Eastern Panhandle

Since admission to practice in West Virginia’s state and federal courts, Ms. Chapman has focused her practice in litigation. She has extensive experience in the defense of mass tort claims, premises owner and manufacturer, as well as the defense of personal injury, contract, and commercial litigation. She enjoys work on behalf of plaintiffs, including gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and race discrimination.

Ms. Chapman has extensive experience in education and administrative law. She is a founding member of the West Virginia Council of School Attorneys and was appointed to the West Virginia Board of Education by Governor Gaston Caperton for a nine-year term in 1996, twice serving as president. While on the State Board of Education Ms. Chapman served on the West Virginia School Building Authority, the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission, and chaired the search for the hiring of the State Superintendent of Schools. Ms. Chapman is a past president of the West Virginia State Bar (2009-2010). While serving as an officer of the State Bar, she sat on the Visiting Committee of the West Virginia University College of Law and on the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform. She is a Member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and served on its Executive Council.

Dedicated to public service, Ms. Chapman has served on the boards of West Liberty University, the Ohio Valley Medical Center, the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra Auxiliary. Ms. Chapman is married to Patrick S. Casey, and they have three children.

Tammie Clark Alexander assists clients with banking, real estate, commercial transactions, title insurance, and construction law matters (particularly those related to green construction). Tammie's experience as vice president and general counsel of a nationally recognized bank, and president of one of its subsidiaries, brings a banking industry perspective to her practice, which gives her a greater understanding of the business impact of her legal expertise, and allows her to appreciate the inner-workings of her clients' businesses. An entrepreneur at heart, Tammie understands that the key to successfully representing her clients is to truly become part of their team.

Key Experience

Counseled client with the construction and development of a multi-phase apartment complex, including drafting various documents for the reciprocal use of roads and amenities, and the preparation, review, and negotiation of loan documents for multi-million dollar construction loan

Assisted client in the successful development of a mixed-use subdivision including commercial, residential, and church properties. Representation included establishing criteria for development standards, and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various documents including a complex master association agreement.

As in-house counsel, trained bank personnel on identifying mortgage fraud and computer-based banking scams.

Memberships & Awards

American Bar Association

Licensed Title Insurance Agent, West Virginia and Pennsylvania

Monongalia County Bar Association

The State Journal, Generation Next 40 Under 40 (2008)

Pro Bono Service Award (WVU College of Law)

West Virginia Law Review (WVU College of Law)

West Virginia State Bar

West Virginia Bar Association

Board of Directors, Mon County Habitat for Humanity

Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity of West Virginia

Board of Directors, United Way of Mon and Preston Counties

LGA & Steering Committees, United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties

WVU Children's Hospital Annual Gala Planning Committee

Leadership Monongalia (2005)

Former Court Appointed Special Advocate for Kids (CASA)

Former Board Member, RDVIC

Board of Directors, Friends of WVU Hospital

Community Bankers Association of West Virginia

Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers

West Virginia Bankers Association

Former Board Member, Caritas House, Inc.

Christina T. Brumley is a Member in the Firm's Commercial Law Practice Group focusing on acquisitions and divestitures, commercial transactions, and mineral and property rights issues. Prior to rejoining Jackson Kelly in 2011, Ms. Brumley served as Deputy General Counsel of International Coal Group, Inc. (ICG) where her coal industry experience included advising the corporation and its subsidiaries on property rights, acquisitions and property swaps, mineral leases and deeds, easements and right of way agreements, coal sales agreements, equipment and fuel supply agreements, contract mining agreements, equipment sales including domestic sales and exports, and independent contractor agreements. Additionally, she has considerable experience advising clients on correlative rights between mineral owners and assisting clients with pipeline agreements, land use agreements and gas sales agreements. Her experience includes commercial litigation, including contract and property rights disputes, business torts and shareholder litigation. She has also advised clients on communications law, representing broadcasters in matters before the FCC and advising them in defamation and advertising law.

Ms. Brumley received her Bachelor of Science in business administration, with a concentration in finance, from West Virginia University's College of Business and Economics in 1993, summa cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor from West Virginia University's College of Law in 1998, where she was an issues editor of the West Virginia Law Review. She is admitted to practice before the state courts of West Virginia as well as the West Virginia Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and the U.S. Supreme Court. She has received an AV® Peer Rating from Martindale‑Hubbell.

Ms. Brumley is a member of the industry groups the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation and the Women’s Energy Network. She also serves as the Chairman of the Business Lawyers Division, and as a member of the Executive Council, of the West Virginia Bar Association.

Ms. Brumley is involved in her community, having served on the board of the the Alzheimer’s Association of West Virginia and leading a troop for the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council for several years. She currently serves on the board of The Education Alliance. She has lectured on contract and defamation law.

Richard E. Ford, Jr., is a partner in The Ford Law Firm and has practiced in Lewisburg since 1981, with an emphasis on residential and commercial real estate transactions, probate, estate planning, and business and contract matters.

Mr. Ford graduated from West Virginia University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1981. He is admitted to practice before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He is a member of the Greenbrier County Bar Association, The West Virginia State Bar, The West Virginia Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

Mr. Ford is an ABA Fellow, served as President of the West Virginia State Bar from 1996 to 1997, has served on the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors, the Board of the West Virginia Bar Foundation, as Chairman of the Young Lawyers Section of the West Virginia State Bar, and as Chairman of the Real Estate Section of the West Virginia Bar Association. He has also served on the Board of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, and was an adjunct professor of Business Law at Greenbrier Community College Center for over twenty years.

He is Lay Leader of the Lewisburg United Methodist Church and has been an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 70 in Lewisburg for over thirty years.

He and his wife, Patti, have two sons, Grady, who practices law at The Ford Law Firm, and Jay, who practices law at Spilman Thomas & Battle.

Ray is a labor and employment attorney who focuses his practice on employment litigation. He regularly represents companies in the areas of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour, deliberate intent, unemployment appeals, unfair labor practice, and general litigation. He also has experience counseling clients through pre-litigation employment issues, as well as drafting employee handbooks and policies, severance agreements, and other employment contracts. In addition to labor and employment law, Ray has defended companies and municipalities in cases involving industrial accidents, premises liability, civil rights and First Amendment claims, consumer credit and protection, real estate litigation, motor vehicle accidents, and other general litigation and disputes.

His practice also focuses on government relations. As a registered lobbyist, he regularly advocates on behalf of various businesses and industry sectors before the West Virginia Legislature and state agencies. In this capacity, he is tasked with securing and maintaining access to government officials; analyzing the strategic and legal implications of legislation; drafting bills, amendments, position papers, and rulemaking comments; and monitoring and reporting on pending legislation for clients.

Ray earned his J.D. from the University of Florida, where he received Book awards for obtaining the highest grades in his Legal Writing and Moot Court courses and also served as a teaching assistant for Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Trial Practice courses. He served as president of the Florida Moot Court team and was a finalist competitor in the Cristol Kahn Paskay Cup. As an undergraduate student at Marshall University, Ray served two terms as student body president and as the student representative to the Marshall University Board of Governors and received the 2013 Outstanding Leader award.