Debra handles cases in both
state and federal courts, in the areas of Insurance Coverage, Insurance Bad
Faith, Insurance Defense and has tried cases in counties throughout the State
of West Virginia. In addition to an active trial practice, Debra has an active
appellate practice and has argued cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court
of Appeals, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Debra is admitted
in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of West Virginia, the West Virginia Supreme Court of
Appeals as well as in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Debra is a Fellow in the American College of Coverage Counsel and serves as a
member of its Board of Directors. A member of the Federation of Defense and
Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Debra formerly served as a Senior Director of the
organization. She is also a past member of the Executive Committee of the FDCC.
Debra previously served as the Chair of the FDCC Leadership Institute. For the
past few years she has served as a faculty member of the FDCC’s Litigation
Management College. Debra is a member of the Claims and Management Alliance,
Defense Research Institute, the West Virginia State Bar and the Harrison County
Bar Associations. Debra is also licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Debra has been repeatedly recognized as a Super Lawyer in the
area of Insurance Coverage as well as in Best Lawyers in America. In 2016, she
was named Lawyer of the Year in Insurance Coverage in northern West Virginia.
As a part of her practice, Debra routinely presents seminars and training
sessions to insurance companies and corporate executives on claim handling and
discovery throughout the country.
Reported Cases
- All Risks, Ltd. v. Old White Charities, Inc., 2017 WL 6508845 (4th Cir.
Dec. 20, 2017)
- Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Empire Builders, Inc. 2017 WL 6542508 (S.D.W. Va.
Dec. 21, 2017)
- Bahn v. Doan, 2017 WL 4773881 (Memorandum Decision) (W. Va. 2017)
- Swiger v. United Valley Ins. Co., 2016 WL 3383264 (Memorandum Decision) (W.
Va. 2016)
- Berkhouse v. Great American Assur. Co., 2013 WL 6152414 (Memorandum
Decision) (W. Va. 2013)
- Longanacre v. Farmers Mut. Ins. Co., 2013 WL 5967104 (Memorandum Decision)
(W. Va. 2013)
- Chafin ex rel. Estate of Bradley v. Farmers & Mechanics Mut. Ins. Co. of
W.Va., 751 S.E.2d 765 (W. Va. 2013)
- AIG Domestic Claims, Inc. v. Hess Oil Co., Inc., 751 S.E.2d 31 (W. Va.
2013)
- Lindsay v. Attorneys Liability Protection Soc., Inc., 2013 WL 1776465
(Memorandum Decision) (W. Va. 2013)
- Ruckdeschel v. Falcon Drilling Co., LLC, 693 S.E.2d 815 (W. Va. 2010)
- Jennings v. Farmers Mut. Ins. Co., 687 S.E.2d 574 (W. Va. 2009)
- Dunn v. Rockwell, 689 S.E.2d 255 (W. Va. 2009)
- Strahin v. Sullivan, 647 S.E.2d 765 (W.Va. 2007)
- Brown v. City of Fairmont, 655 S.E.2d 563 (W.Va. 2007)
- Strahin v. Cleavenger, 603 S.E.2d 197
- Dairyland Ins. Co. v. Conley, 624 S.E.2d 599 (W.Va. 2005)
- Clark v. Druckman, 624 S.E.2d 864 (W.Va. 2005)
- W.Va. Fire & Cas. Co. v. Stanley, 602 S.E.2d 483 (W.Va. 2004)
- Gulas v. Infocision Mgmt. Corp., 599 S.E.2d 648 (2004)
- Findley v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 576 S.E.2 807 (W.Va. 2002)
- Estate of Davis by Casey v. Farmers Mut. Ins. Co., 533 S.E.2d 33 (W.Va.
2000)
- Mallet v. Pickens, 522 S.E.2d 436 (W.Va. 1999)
- Mulledy v. West Virginia Ins. Co., 495 S.E.2d 566 (W.Va. 1997)
- Self v. Queen, 487 S.E.2d 295 (W.Va. 1997)
- State ex. rel. Cavender v. McCarty, 479 S.E.2d 887 (W.Va. 1996)
- Cavender v. Fouty, 464 S.E.2d 736 (W.Va. 1995).
A graduate of University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law, Debra also
earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from William Paterson College. She is
married to James A. Varner, Sr. In her spare time, Debra enjoys golfing,
cooking and traveling.
