Aaron C. Boone

Aaron Boone leads the firm’s Insurance Defense Group. He is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in the areas of extra-contractual/coverage, liability claims, business disputes, and trust & estate litigation.

• Recognized by Super Lawyers (Construction Litigation), 2018
• Elected to the Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar, representing the Third District (Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Calhoun and Gilmer Counties), December 2017

• Author, West Virginia section of Defense Research Institute’s 2015 State by State Insurance Bad Faith Law Compendium

• Joined Bowles Rice in December 2005, as trial attorney; elected Partner December 2010
• Private practice: criminal defense, family law, abuse and neglect matters (2004-2005)
• Judicial Law Clerk, West Virginia Fourth Circuit (2002-2004)

Representative Matters

Defense of Major Retail Pharmacy in National Opioid Litigation: Served as Expert Witness Coordinator for one of the country’s largest pharmacies/supermarkets in the National Prescription Opiate Litigation pending before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The National Prescription Opiate Litigation is the major opioid national multidistrict litigation (MDL 2804) presided over by a federal judge in Ohio but affecting nearly every state in the country. Through this litigation, Aaron was the lead attorney curating the opinions and reports for dozens of Experts in the National Opioid Litigation. Aaron also defended and conducted questioning of experts across the country; served as lead attorney in numerous offensive depositions across the country; and appeared and served as Trial Counsel during a multi-week trial in New Mexico.

Defense of Insurance Carriers for Claims of Bad Faith: Defend Insurance Carriers, including Fortune 500 companies, against Bad Faith claims filed under the West Virginia Unfair Trade Practices Act (UTPA). Provide coverage analysis to insurance companies, and litigate coverage actions.

Business Litigation: Lead attorney on numerous business litigation matters including mergers & acquisition litigation for Fortune 500 company, dissolution of corporation for West Virginia business, claims under West Virginia Consumer Credit & Protection Act (WVCCPA), claims under West Virginia Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (WVFDPA), temporary restraining orders, preliminary and permanent injunctions and defending property damage claims for major telecommunications company.

Defense of Personal Injury/Liability Claims: Served as lead attorney in nearly 150 personal injury/liability claims involving myriad medical injuries including soft tissue injuries, neurological diseases, orthopedic injuries, psychiatric trauma, pulmonary disease and cardiac disease.

Employer Liability Litigation: Lead attorney defending businesses and municipalities in claims involving West Virginia Human Rights Act, West Virginia Wage Payment Act, Hostile Work Environment Claims, and Workplace Discrimination Claims. Represented companies pursuing violations of Employee Non-Compete Agreements.

Trust & Estate Litigation: Served as lead attorney on numerous trust and estate litigation matters including challenges to estate planning documents such as trust or will contests; allegations of fraud, incapacity, and breach of fiduciary duty; and interpretation of trust provisions. 

Defense of Governmental Entities: Served as lead attorney in claims filed against political subdivisions under the West Virginia Governmental Tort Immunities Act; represents municipalities and county boards of education.

Defense of Medical Malpractice Claims: Served as counsel in medical malpractice actions filed under the West Virginia Medical Professional Liability Act. 

Construction Litigation: Served as counsel on numerous construction defect litigation matters and eminent domain proceedings. Primary counsel on multimillion dollar bond claim for local regional airport.

Defense of Trucking Companies: Served as lead attorney in claims involving violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

General Counsel to assisted living facility based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Recently successfully concluded litigation for another assisted living facility based in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Former Court Appointed Defense Counsel: From September 2004 through December 2005, represented countless criminal defendants, juvenile delinquents, and abuse and neglect clients.

Trial Experience: Approximately 40 matters to verdict.

• Named to The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trust and Estates), since 2024 
• West Virginia University College of Law Order of Barristers
• Recognized by Super Lawyers (Construction Litigation), 2018-present

• West Virginia State Bar, Board of Governors, 3rd District
• Wood County Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance

• Wood County Bar Association (Treasurer, Past President)
• Parkersburg Fireman's Civil Service Commission (President, 2004-2015)