Search Results

Top 2023 Lawyers in asbestos, product liability, mesothelioma, lung cancer, employment and labor, whistleblower / qui tam, workers' compensation, wills, trusts, and estates administration, and personal injury & wrongful death cases. Call 757-223-4500 today to speak with an attorney at Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. Suffering from Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, or an Injury? Click Here to Get Help with your Asbestos, Product Liability, or Injury Claim Virginia Lawyers With a National Reputation Contact PWHD We ask that you complete all the information in the form below so our lawyers are able to understand your particular needs. If you require immediate assistance, please call us at (757) 223-4500. Disclaimer Submit Contact Us

Robert ("Bobby") R. Hatten is a pioneer and national leader in the field of asbestos litigation. Hatten served as a law clerk to the Honorable John A. MacKenzie in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In late 1973, he joined the law firm of Patten & Wornom and was made Partner in 1976. From 1991 to 2019, Hatten has served as the Managing Partner of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. ROBERT (BOBBY) R. HATTEN PARTNER Robert ("Bobby") R. Hatten is a pioneer and national leader in the field of asbestos litigation. Hatten served as a law clerk to the Honorable John A. MacKenzie in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In late 1973, he joined the law firm of Patten & Wornom and was made Partner in 1976. From 1991 to 2019, Hatten served as the Managing Partner of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. Hatten began the representation of workers with asbestos disease in 1975, when he filed the first asbestos disability and death claims in the history of the state of Virginia against the Newport News Shipyard for workers’ compensation benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. In 1976, Hatten and his co-counsel, Gene Locks of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Richard Glasser of Norfolk, Virginia, filed the first asbestos product liability claims in Virginia against more than 40 asbestos manufacturers and suppliers. In June 1978, Hatten and his co-counsel successfully prosecuted the first mesothelioma jury trial in Virginia (and only the third successful asbestos trial in the nation at that time) with a verdict against Johns-Manville Corporation in the amount of $750,000. From that time until the present, Hatten’s practice has been devoted exclusively to the representation of asbestos victims. He has published articles concerning asbestos litigation in the Washington & Lee University Law Review, the VTLA Journal, the Texas Lawyer, and the Washington Legal Times. His accomplishments include the first successful consolidation of more than 1,000 lawsuits, the first national settlement program with the asbestos industry, the first Virginia punitive damage jury verdict against the asbestos industry (1991) and the largest punitive damage verdict in an asbestos case (2011). For 6 consecutive years, Hatten’s verdicts against the asbestos industry were listed in the Top 10 Verdicts for the state of Virginia. These included the following multi-million dollar verdicts for mesothelioma victims: $7,500,000 (2016); $25,000,000 (2011); $5,977,482 (2010); $3,800,000 (2009); $4,390,000 (2008); $9,300,000 (2007); and $10,000,000 (2006). In 2006 Hatten won the landmark case of Jones v. John Crane in the Virginia Supreme Court which established that admiralty jurisdiction and maritime law applied to the claims of all shipyard and Navy asbestos victims. This legal precedent established the rights of family members of mesothelioma victims to receive compensation for the pain and suffering of their loved one after their death, it lessened the burden of proof for establishing liability of asbestos manufacturers, it extended the time allowed for filing asbestos lawsuits and it provides that the liberal remedies of maritime law would control the rights of shipyard and Navy asbestos victims--not state law. Email: rrhatten@pwhd.com Phone: (757) 223-4546 Practice Areas: Asbestos Litigation Toxic Tort Litigation (Carcinogens) Benzene Camp Lejeune Chemical Hair Straightener Pesticides Talc vCard Contact Education: Washington & Lee University Law School - Juris Doctor Hampden-Sydney College - Bachelors Admissions: Supreme Court of Virginia Supreme Court of United States United States Court of Appeals Honors: Best Lawyers in America (2001 - Present) Super Lawyers (2006 - Present) Best Lawyer of the Year in Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs 2023 Best Lawyer of the Year in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs 2022 Best Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs 2015 and 2019 Best Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury Litigation 2012 Rector of the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University and Member of the Board of Visitors since 2015 Chairman of the Board of Soundscapes for 12 years Consistently received highest rating of Martindale-Hubbell for thirty years Former Campaign Chair and Chairman of the Board of the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula Previously received the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Community and Justice Previously Johns-Manville Bankruptcy Reorganization Committee Member Previously Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Bankruptcy Reorganization Committee member Previously Chairman of the Litigation Section of the Multi-District Asbestos Litigation in Philadelphia, PA Previously Liaison to Congress for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America on asbestos-related matters Formerly served on the Board of Directors of the VTLA Former recipient of the first award for Courageous Advocacy from the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Previously designated by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as one of the top seven Leaders in the Law of Virginia Served on the Board of Trustees of St. Andrews Episcopal School Served on the Board of the Trustees for Hampden-Sydney College Served on the General Samuel V. Wilson Leadership Center at Hampden-Sydney College Served on the Board of Trustees for the Lexington Theological Seminary Founder of Operation Santa Co-Founder of the Virginia Asbestos Victims, Inc. Associations: American Associate for Justice (fka American Trial Lawyers Association) Southern Trial Lawyers Association National Trial Lawyers International Association of Trial Lawyers

We will represent you zealously and to the best of our ability with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein today by calling (757) 223-4500. PRINCIPLES & VALUES PWHD believes that everyone is entitled to prompt, courteous, accurate and ethical legal advice on fair terms. We want to partner with our clients to obtain the very best results possible for the client, depending on the client’s needs and desires. This requires direct, open and honest communication and cooperation between our attorneys, staff members and clients. We endeavor to communicate with our clients on a timely basis, return their phone calls and inquiries promptly, and keep them fully involved in the conduct of their cases. PWHD has a solid appreciation for the civil justice system and right of jury trial. We believe that all people should have the right to request a trial by a jury of their peers, and that they should be able to have their day in court. If your case is one that should be tried, we will represent you zealously and to the best of our ability. If we believe that an option other than trial may be better for your case, we will candidly and respectfully discuss that option with you. Finally, PWHD believes that we have an obligation to support our community and neighbors through various volunteer and not-for-profit enterprises. As a firm, we are constantly learning, growing and seeking ways to improve our services to our clients and community. Through these activities we hope to help at risk children and other vulnerable members of our community to grow and thrive. PWHD History PWHD News

Starting as a pioneer and champion of the rights of asbestos victims, PWHD’s product liability practice has grown over time to handle a wide variety of products, including breast implants, welding rods, medical devices, 3M combat earplugs, Roundup®, and talc. Since 1975, this firm has won landmark decisions, dozens of jury verdicts and thousands of settlements for mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer victims against negligent asbestos product manufacturers. LITIGATION AREA Products Liability Litigation Read More Asbestos Benzene Exposure Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit CPAP Machines Hernia Mesh Medical Devices Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease Roundup Sunscreen and Benzene Talc Zantac Contact Us PWHD is a local firm with a national reputation. Starting as a pioneer and champion of the rights of asbestos victims, PWHD’s product liability practice has grown over time to handle a wide variety of products, including breast implants, welding rods, medical devices, 3M combat earplugs, Roundup®, and talc. Since 1975, this firm has won landmark decisions, dozens of jury verdicts and thousands of settlements for mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer victims against negligent asbestos product manufacturers. PWHD’s jury victories for mesothelioma victims were in the top 10 multi-million dollar verdicts of the year for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011— the only Virginia law firm to have top ten verdicts for all six consecutive years. If you have been injured as a result of a faulty product design, manufacturing defect, or a failure to warn you of the hazards of a product, please contact us for a free case evaluation . We can help. Asbestos Litigation Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Geoffr ey R. Grau Adam M. Hawks

Adam Hawks is an associate attorney with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. He began working with the firm in 2023 and focuses on representing plaintiffs and their families. Before joining the firm, Adam worked at Washington and Lee’s prestigious Advanced Administrative Litigation Clinic (Black Lung). At the Black Lung Clinic, Adam assisted former coal miners suffering from coal dust-induced lung diseases like pneumoconiosis and silicosis in applying for federal benefits. ADAM M. HAWKS ATTORNEY Adam Hawks is an associate attorney with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. He began working with the firm in 2023 and focuses on representing plaintiffs and their families. Before joining the firm, Adam worked at Washington and Lee’s prestigious Advanced Administrative Litigation Clinic (Black Lung). At the Black Lung Clinic, Adam assisted former coal miners suffering from coal dust-induced lung diseases like pneumoconiosis and silicosis in applying for federal benefits. He helped the former coal miners navigate their cases through the Administrative Law Courts. Adam also served a summer internship with the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Western District of Virginia. He also served as a Lead Articles Editor with the Journal of Social and Racial Justice. Education: Washington & Lee University, School of Law – Juris Doctor Montana Technological University, Bachelor of Science, with Honors, Liberal Arts and Professional and Technical Communications Admissions: Supreme Court of Virginia United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia Honors: Lead Articles Editor, Washington & Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice Associations: Virginia State Bar American Association for Justice Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Email: ahawks@pwhd.com Phone: (757) 223-4457 Practice Areas: Products Liability L itigation Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation Employment Litigation vCard Contact

Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. is locally and nationally renowned for its excellence in multiple areas of litigation. Our team is dedicated to fulfilling the legal needs of individuals and businesses. How can we help you? Practice Areas Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. is locally and nationally renowned for its excellence in multiple areas of litigation. Our team is dedicated to fulfilling the legal needs of individuals and businesses. How can we help you? Contact an Attorney What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk? Ship Builders, and Navy Veterans Asbestos Disease Claims Asbestos Case Evaluation Form Asbestos Litigation Employment Contracts and Severance Negotiations Employment Discrimination Litigation of All Workplace Issues Non-Compete and Restrictive Covenant Litigation Racial Harassment Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the Workplace Wage and Hour Overtime Violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act Workplace Retaliation Wrongful Discharge Employment & Labor Aircraft Accidents Automobile Accidents Boating Accidents Brain and Spinal Injuries Commercial Vehicle and Truck Accidents Dog Bites Jones Act Litigation Maritime Litigation Motorcycle Accidents Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Pedestrian Accidents Premises Liability Slip and Fall Accidents Tractor Trailer Accidents Uninsured Motorist Claims Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Products Liability Asbestos Litigation Benzene Exposure Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Chemical Hair Straighteners CPAP MachinesHernia Mesh Medical Devices Paraquat & Parkinson’s Disease Roundup Litigation Sunscreen and Benzene Talc Litigation Zantac Whistleblower / Qui T am Contractor Fraud Education and Grant Fraud Financial Services Fraud Foreign and Corrupt Practices Act Violations General Services Administration (GSA) Fraud Health Care Fraud IRS Tax Fraud Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Nursing Home and Hospice Fraud Pharmaceutical Fraud Procurement Fraud SEC Dodd-Frank Violations Stark Violations Workers Compensation Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation State Workers' Compensation Asbestos Exposure Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer? Click here to learn more about your rights and option. We have been at the forefront of asbestos litigation for the past 50 years!

Eleanor Weston Brown leads the firm’s Estate and Tax Planning, Estate Administration and Wealth Transfer Practice. Eleanor’s focus on estate planning and estate administration synthesizes her education and experience in tax law with her creative ability to design and administer unique solutions to meet the wealth transfer goals of her clients in a tax-advantaged way. ELEANOR WESTON BROWN PARTNER Email: ewbrown@pwhd.com Newport News: (757) 223-4456 Irvington: (804) 223-2804 Practice Areas: Estate and Tax Planning Estate Administration Probate Trust Administration Business Succession Planning vCard Contact Eleanor Weston Brown leads the firm’s Estate and Tax Planning, Estate Administration and Wealth Transfer Practice. Eleanor’s focus on estate planning and estate administration synthesizes her education and experience in tax law with her creative ability to design and administer unique solutions to meet the wealth transfer goals of her clients in a tax-advantaged way. Highly sought after as a trusted advisor, Eleanor has devoted her practice to developing lifelong relationships with clients and their families. Known for her empathy and compassion, Eleanor is devoted to serving clients working through challenging family and business succession issues. Eleanor graduated from the University of Virginia in 1981 and received her law degree from the University of Richmond in 1985. She received an LLM in Taxation from the College of William & Mary Law School in 1987. Eleanor clerked at the Appellate Division of the Internal Revenue Service. In the private practice of law since 1985, Eleanor has handled a wide range of complex transactions including structuring mergers, acquisitions, and tax-free reorganizations, tax exempt entities, and handled tax controversies at all levels of government. That transactional tax experience informs and augments her estate planning practice, which ranges from simple wills to complex generation skipping plans and charitable planning, including the use of charitable conservation easements and land preservation tax credits. Eleanor’s love of the law and desire to mentor young lawyers led her to teach law. Eleanor served as an associate professor with tenure at Regent University School of Law, where she taught Individual Federal Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Estate and Gift Tax, Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning and Business Associations. She was named multiple years by Regent University law students as Professor of the Year. Her publications include Transferable Conservation Easement Tax Credits, the Virginia Experience, CRITICAL ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION, INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES: VOL. VI, published by the prestigious Oxford University Press (2009). Eleanor is a frequent speaker on estate and tax matters including a number of continuing education programs for lawyers, accountants, certified life underwriters, and trust officers. She has been a guest speaker in the lifelong learning program at Christopher Newport University and has spoken at a number of forums presented by charitable organizations including Williamsburg Community Hospital, WHRO, Children’s Hospital of King’s Daughters and the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck. Eleanor is a native of Hampton, Virginia and is active in many professional and civic associations. She was elected to Hampton City Council, where she led the city’s resiliency efforts, combining economic development initiatives with environmental stewardship goals. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe named Eleanor to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation Board of Trustees, where she served as Chairman for four years. She served for seven years as the Chairman of the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority where she led the transition to a citizen board. During her tenure, she shepherded numerous redevelopment efforts. Eleanor also served as Chairman of the Hampton Economic Development Authority. She was selected to serve on the Board of Directors of Hampton First, a coalition of community leaders, where she served as Vice Chairman. Hampton First developed recommendations to the City Council for the revitalization of downtown Hampton. Other past service includes Member of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources (appointed by then-Governor Terry McAuliffe), Member and Treasurer, Foundation for Virginia’s Natural Resources Board of Trustees (appointed by then-Governor Tim Kaine), Member of the Pro Bono Council of the Virginia Bar Association, Member of the Virginia Peninsula Economic Development Council and President of the Peninsula Estate Planning Council . Eleanor is admitted to practice in Virginia and North Carolina, the United States Tax Court and the United States Supreme Court. Eleanor was appointed by the judges of the Hampton Circuit Court as Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Hampton. During her professional career, Eleanor has earned numerous honors, including the Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, Regent University, the Presidential Award for Outstanding Citizenship from Hampton University and recognition as one of Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite, “Best Lawyers in Virginia” in the areas of Tax, Trusts, and Estates. Eleanor and her husband, Bill, divide their time between their home at historic Ft. Monroe, Virginia and their cottage in the Northern Neck, where they enjoy sharing their love of the Chesapeake Bay with their children and grandchildren. Education: William and Mary Law School - LL.M in Taxation University of Richmond School of Law - Juris Doctor University of Virginia - Bachelor of Arts Admissions: Supreme Court of United States United States Tax Court Supreme Court of Virginia Supreme Court of North Carolina Academic Experienc e: Regent University School of Law, Virginia Beach, Virginia Associate Profes sor of Law with Tenure, 2011-2015 Associate Professor of Law, 2003-2011 Visiting Professor, 2002-2003 Courses Taught: Individual Federal Income Tax Estate and Gift Tax Estate Planning Business Associations Corporate Tax Wills, Trusts and Estates Professional Skills Practicum, Wills and Corporations Publications: Book Chapters: Tax Sweets or Eliminate “Sweet” Subsidies from the American Diet? Can Taxation Make Us Healthier , MARKET INSTRUMENTS AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY (2012). Transferable Conservation Easement Tax Credits, the Virginia Experience, CRITICAL ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION, INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES: VOL. VI, Oxford University Press (2009). Articles: A Common Morality: Towards a Framework for Designing Fiscal Instruments to Respond to Global Climate Change, 15 U Widener L R 391 (2010). Healing Healthcare Through Tax Reform, 1 Regent J.L. & Pub. Pol'y 101(2010). Estate Administration in Virginia, NBI, March, 2005. S Corporation Reform under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Virginia Bar Association Business Law Section Newsletter, Spring 2005. Honors: Hampton University Presidential Award for Outstanding Citizenship, January 2016 Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, Regent University, January 2013 3L Professor of the Year, Regent University School of Law (multiple years) 2L Professor of the Year, Regent University School of Law (multiple years) Virginia Bar Association Pro Bono Servant Charter Member, 2006 Virginia Business Magazine Legal Elite, “Best Lawyers in Virginia in Tax, Trusts & Estates” (multiple years) Professional and Community Memberships and Activities: Me mberships and Appointments: Commissioner of Accounts, Circuit Court for the City of Hampton, Virginia (Judicial Appointment 2019-2023) Elected to City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia (July 1, 2018-December 31, 2022) Chairman, Virginia Outdoors Foundation (Gubernatorial appointee November 2017- 2019) Member, Virginia Outdoors Foundation Board of Trustees (Gubernatorial Appointment July 1, 2016- present) Member, Virginia Board of Historic Resources (Gubernatorial appointment July 1, 2015- June 2016) Chairman, Hampton Economic Development Authority (City Council Appointment January 2016-2018) Vice Chairman, Hampton Economic Development Authority (City Council Appointment January 2015-2016) Member, Hampton Economic Development Authority (City Council Appointment 2014-2018) Member, Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority (City Council Appointment 2007-2014; 2017- 2018) Chairman, Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority (City Council Appointment 2007-2014) Member, H2O Community Development Authority (City Council Appointment 2008-2018) Vice Chairman, Hampton First (City Council Appointment 2012-2018) Member and Treasurer, Foundation for Virginia’s Natural Resources Board of Trustees (Gubernatorial Appointment 2006-2011) Virginia Bar Association Community Service Council (Dean’s Appointment, 2004) Pro Bono Participant in Leave a Legacy, Christopher Newport University (May 2003) President, Peninsula Estate Planning Council (2001-2002) Member, Peninsula Estate Planning Council (1989-present) Member, Virginia Peninsula Economic Development Council (City Council Appointment 1992-1993) Member, Junior League of Hampton Roads (1986-1996), Chairman, Endowment; Sustainer (1996-present) Virginia Living Museum Capital Campaign Committee Hampton Yacht Club, Board Member (2011-2014) Member, Huntington Garden Club, Treasurer ( Merrimac Garden Club (President 2015-2016) St. John’s Episcopal Church, Hampton, Virginia (Stewardship Chairman)

Contact PWHD Product Liability attorneys for asbestos, mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, medical devices, Roundup, 3M hearing Protection, Talc, workers' compensation, employment & labor, personal injury & wrongful death, and whistleblower / qui tam. Free Case Evaluation We ask that you complete as many questions below as possible, so our skilled attorneys are able to best understand your particular needs. If you require immediate assistance, please call us at (757) 223-4500 . First Name Last Name Phone Email Please select a litigation area that pertains to your issue/case: * Asbestos Employment & Labor Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Products Liability Whistleblower / Qui Tam Workers' Compensation Other What injury, illness, or issue do you have? Submit

Hugh McCormick is a first chair trial lawyer and partner with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, LC, where he represents individuals and families whose lives have been devastated by mesothelioma and other asbestos related lung diseases. Mr. McCormick has litigated and tried cases involving mesothelioma in state and federal courts for over 20 years, and he has served on numerous trial teams that have achieved multi-million dollar verdicts for hardworking shipyard workers and navy sailors. HUGH B. McCORMICK, III PARTNER Hugh McCormick is a first chair trial lawyer and partner with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, LC, where he represents individuals and families whose lives have been devastated by mesothelioma and other asbestos related lung diseases. Mr. McCormick has litigated and tried cases involving mesothelioma in state and federal courts for over 20 years, and he has served on numerous trial teams that have achieved multi-million dollar verdicts for hardworking shipyard workers and navy sailors. Two of these verdicts were reported in Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly as “Virginia’s Largest Verdicts” for 2008 (#10) and 2010 (#5). Mr. McCormick grew up in Newport News, and has lived on the Virginia peninsula for over 45 years. Because of this background, he has had the privilege of representing friends, neighbors, church members, and parents of school mates who have been victimized by corporate indifference and greed. Education: Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law - Juris Doctor Washington & Lee University - Bachelor of Science Biology Admissions: Supreme Court of Virginia United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia Honors: Best Lawyers in America (2021 & 2022) Awarded "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory Super Lawyers Associations: Virginia State Bar American Association for Justice Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors 2006-2010) Newport News Bar Association Email: hughmccormick@pwhd.com Phone: (757) 223-4556 Practice Areas: Asbestos Litigation Benzene Exposure CPAP Machines Hernia Mesh Jones Act Litigation Maritime Litigation Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease Roundup Litigation Sunscreen and Benzene Talc Litigation Workers Compensation Zantac vCard Contact

Make an appointment with us today by calling (757) 223-4500. Soundscapes Golf Tournament 2021 Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Bobby Hatten and Friends Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD 1/5 PWHD is proud to report that it recently presented the Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic Tournament. PWHD Asbestos and Products Liability Lead Litigation Attorney, Bobby Hatten, played in the tournament along with other friends of the firm. Soundscapes is a local nonprofit organization that teaches critical life skills to students through music education. All proceeds from the Soundscapes Golf Classic support the student musicians, and the heart of Soundscape’s mission, which is the strong belief in the power of music to change lives and the understanding that all children have valuable contributions to make both musically and to our community. PWHD has been a supporter of Soundscapes since its inception. Bobby Hatten is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Soundscapes and has served as its Chairman of the Board since its inception in 2010. The Honorable Alan A. Diamonstein , former PWHD Partner, was also passionate about Soundscapes’ mission and served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of Soundscapes until he passed away in 2019. PWHD is dedicated and committed to supporting organizations like Soundscapes which positively impact the lives of children on the Peninsula. Learn more about Soundscapes , Bobby Hatten and PWHD here: PWHD in the Community Robert R. Hatten Products Liability Soundscapes General Litigation 16th Annual Food Frenzy to Benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank 16th Annual Food Frenzy For many years, PWHD has sought to help those in need and provide help for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. PWHD is pleased to announce our participation in the 16th Annual Food Frenzy to benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. PWHD is a longtime supporter of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. Since 1986, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has served those struggling with hunger throughout the Peninsula The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank also provides programs for children, seniors and others in our community facing food insecurity.. PWHD has also participated in the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s Legal Food Frenzy since its inception and is continuing its support by participating in the 2021 Legal Food Frenzy. Contributions to the Foodbank can be made directly here: Patten Wornom Hatten Diamonstein L C is fundraising for Virginia Peninsula Foodbank (justgiving.com) In 2021, PWHD attorneys and staff again volunteered at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank in Hampton as part of the firm’s participation in the Legal Food Frenzy. At the event, volunteers packed boxes for the Foodbank’s community food pantry partners, which totaled in excess of 3,500 pounds of food. In addition, as a result of the firm’s fundraising efforts and contributions of non-perishable food in 2021 for the Legal Food Frenzy, the Foodbank will be able to provide 11,930 meals to those in need in our community. At PWHD, we are committed to ensuring a better day for our neighbors and friends. Read more about PWHD’s community involvement here: https://www.pwhd.com/community If you need legal representation, give us a call today at 757-223-4500 or fill out our online contact form . Our attorneys handle a variety of legal matters and are available by phone, videoconference, or in-person meetings to discuss your legal needs. Rector of CNU Robert Hatten 2020 Super Lawyers Rector Robert R. Hatten, Esq. Statement on Black Lives Matter and Social Justice CNU Board of Visitors, June 4, 2020 Good afternoon. I am Bobby Hatten. I am a trial lawyer and I have the great honor to serve as the Rector of the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University, and I welcome all of you to this public meeting of that board. Before starting the business meeting I would like to take a moment of personal privilege to speak to everyone in the Commonwealth of Virginia who is listening: We have a crisis of structural and intractable racism in America. It is obvious and blatant to everyone who has eyes to see and a heart to understand. So obvious that the entire country has just seen a policeman murder a Black man in broad daylight, slowly killing him with his knee on his neck, while three other policemen stood by and did nothing to stop it. That crime, as well as other atrocities by police, has ignited the justifiable rage and anger of millions of Americans—Black, Brown and White—who are still marching through our cities and towns. Chanting, crying, shouting, and pleading “BLACK LIVES MATTER”—and indeed they do. One thing is certain: White people, like me, DO NOT KNOW what it is like to be Black in America, But IF this week has taught us anything, it has taught us that it is time—long past time—that White men and women in America need to start listening to Black people and standing up with them. Listen when they say: America has a crisis of impunity, immunity, and accountability for police brutality toward Black people. Listen when they say: America has a crisis of inequality in income, health care, opportunity, and education for Black people. Listen when they say: America has a crisis of justice in our courts and of leadership in our government. All over America, these cries of Black people for justice and fairness have not been answered. BUT today the whole world is listening. We—White people—should have been listening sooner – but this is not new. Systemic racism against Black people has been ingrained in American culture for hundreds of years. From slavery, to Jim Crow laws, to the Ku Klux Klan, to segregated schools, restaurants, and hotels, to the red lining of real estate, and the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this part of our American history is an ugly story. Only three years ago, as a country we shamed a Black football player who harmlessly put his knee on the ground to protest police brutality during the singing of our national anthem. He rightly believed that our national pledge of allegiance is to “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.” But the police killings of Black men and women has continued. Enough is enough. White people can no longer look away and refuse to confront these issues. It is long past time for broad-reaching structural and institutional changes to our laws and our culture to root out and destroy racism against Black and Brown people in America. As leaders of this great University, we have heard the voices of the Black Community and we support you. Your voices, thoughts, and feelings matter to the University– but we want you to know that we have not been waiting for this national tragedy to respond. Under the progressive leadership of President Paul Trible, Last year we instituted the Community Captains program to directly change the lives of economically disadvantaged children in Newport News, most of whom are Black. This program will ultimately provide 100 students with a totally free college education at CNU. This progressive program is unmatched by any other college or university in the state of Virginia. Last week the University Council on Diversity and Inclusion, led by our colleagues Sheriff Gabe Morgan and Brad Hunter, and including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and leaders from the community—submitted Christopher Newport’s Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In thoughtful detail, this 25-page document outlines a bold plan of action for the University to overcome the remaining burdens of historical racism in higher education. Today, twenty-one percent (21%) of CNU’s 5,000 students are non-White, and 300 are Black. I am pleased to report that our focus on attracting more students of color has increased the number of Black students we expect to welcome to our Freshman class based on deposits received. This year we expect to welcome 91 Black students versus 78 last year—an increase of 16%. The Community Captains Program that I have just described will swell those numbers of Black students in future years. Paul Trible’s mantra and CNU’s mission is to change hearts and minds so that we can provide leadership to our community, our state, and our country. Happily, the hearts and minds of our nation are changing—yesterday thousands of Black, Brown, and White people gathered in front of the White House and their voices were lifted up in unison as they sang - Lean on ME – Lean on me when you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. CNU’s message to our students and to this community is simple: Lean on Us because Black Lives Do Matter at CNU, and we intend to play a leadership role in changing the hearts and minds of our students, our community, and our country so that we can end the crisis of racism that is so destructive to our national ideals of equality, fairness, and justice. Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein (PWHD) is Excited to Announce Our Attorneys have been Named to the 2020 Super Lawyers List. About Super Lawyers Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers List, which evaluates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Virginia Super Lawyers can be found by searching the directory online at superlawyers.com 2020 SUPER LAWYERS Donald N. Patten 15th time selected as a Super Lawyer Donald Patten, a Newport News attorney, has represented individuals and businesses in product liability and negligence actions, commercial contract disputes and real estate business matters for over 50 years. Patten, who represents firm clients in multi-jurisdictional asbestos related bankruptcy proceedings, has been named in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2001 and has been chosen as a Virginia Super Lawyer every year since 2006. He is a former President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and has been awarded the highest AV ranking by the Martindale-Hubbell® lawyer rating service. Approximately 10% of all attorneys hold an AV Preeminent Rating, a designation trusted worldwide by buyers and referrers of legal services. Robert R. Hatten 15th time selected as a Super Lawyer For over 40 years Bobby Hatten has been a pioneer and national leader in asbestos litigation, prosecuting cases across Virginia and the nation for shipyard workers, Navy veterans, industrial workers, and their families. His work has established landmark decisions relating to maritime jurisdiction, statutes of limitations, conflicts of law, monetary damages, and product liability. For 25 years he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and chosen by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for 2019. In 2010 he was chosen to be a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. VTLA, ATLA, and Lawyers Weekly have each conferred special advocacy awards for his many contributions to the law. Jury verdict in the Top 10 Verdicts in Virginia for 8 consecutive years (2006-2013) and 2016. James H. Shoemaker, Jr. 14th time selected as a Super Lawyer James H. Shoemaker, Jr. is an attorney providing legal services covering Employment & Labor: Employee and Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff. James Shoemaker, Jr., who practices law in Newport News, Virginia, was selected to Super Lawyers for 2007 - 2020. Being chosen for multiple years is high recognition of peer and professional respect and achievement in legal practice, and other cogent factors. 20th Annual Legal Elite Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein (PWHD) is Excited to Announce Our Attorney Named the 20th Annual Virginia Legal Elite! About Virginia Business Legal Elite The Virginia Business Legal Elite recognizes the top Virginia lawyers across 20 specialties as selected by their peers. The voting is open to all lawyers licensed to practice in Virginia. Virginia Business Legal Elite Lawyers can be found online at https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/virginia-business-legal-elite-2019/ James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Labor Employment Lung Cancer Month November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month About every two and a half minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women, and asbestos exposure can cause or contribute to cause lung cancer. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Individuals who worked in the shipbuilding industry, construction, railroads, and power plants and veterans often had occupational exposure to asbestos decades ago. As asbestos-containing products are cut, removed, or abraded, microscopic asbestos fibers are released. Workers inhale these fibers and they become lodged in their lung tissue. Over time, these fibers can cause cellular damage and mutations, suppress the body’s ability to fight off these mutations, and result in lung cancer. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with lung cancer, and worked in the shipbuilding industry, construction, railroads, and power plants or served in the Navy, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Patten Honorary Degree Donald N. Patten Receives Honorary Degree Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C., congratulates PWHD Partner, Donald N. Patten, on recently receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from William & Mary Law School. Mr. Patten joined the school’s Board of Visitors in 1999 and served as Rector of William & Mary from 2001 to 2003. He also became an honorary alumnus of the Law School Class of 2018 and is an Emeritus member of William & Mary’s Business School Foundation. Mr. Patten is also an avid supporter of William & Mary Law School’s trial team. View the video of Mr. Patten here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HZWvYzQW_c Mr. Patten’s legal career has spanned over fifty years. Since 1976, Mr. Patten has represented shipyard workers, veterans, and other workers and their families who were suffering from asbestos-related diseases. He currently serves on the C.E. Thurston & Sons Asbestos Trust Advisory Committee. Mr. Patten is a past President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, received the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory for legal competence, and was selected by his peers to be included in the 2001-2002 edition of the “The Best Lawyers in America.” Mr. Patten was also very involved in his community. He served as a member of the Newport News City Council, was vice mayor, served as chair of the Newport News Planning Commission, served as the chair of the Peninsula Airport Commission, and he served on the Executive Committee of the State Council For Higher Education for Virginia. In addition, Mr. Patten served on the board of the Peninsula Alliance for Economic Development and the board for the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia. Read more about Patten here: Donald N. Patten and the firm’s history here: PWHD History Read William & Mary’s full post about Patten’s Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws here: https://law.wm.edu/news/stories/2021/donald-n.-patten-named-honorary-law-alumnus-during-fall-commencement-ceremonies.php

PWHD attorneys have over 40 years of experience representing injured workers in claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act against their current or former employers.  Based on our extensive experience and knowledge, our attorneys thoroughly evaluate the locations, dates, and circumstances of our client’s asbestos exposure to determine the client’s best interests... LITIGATION AREA Workers' Compensation PWHD attorneys have over 40 years of experience representing injured workers in claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act against their current or former employers. Based on our extensive experience and knowledge, our attorneys thoroughly evaluate the locations, dates, and circumstances of our client’s asbestos exposure to determine the client’s best interests with respect to these programs and the intricacies of obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. We also have experience successfully pursuing workers compensation benefits for employees and their families who have suffered from traumatic injuries and deaths on the job, as well as non-asbestos related occupational injuries. If you have been injured or diagnosed with a disease as a result of an injury or exposure at work, contact us. We can help. Workers' Compensation Attorney Hugh B. McCormick, III. Contact PWHD

There are legal remedies for most people who suffer disease or disability as a result of exposure to asbestos. These remedies are way of recovering compensation for your injury. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, or Asbestosis, call us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form​ for a free case evaluation.   ASBESTOS LITIGATION Asbestos Disease Claims Read More Asbestos Exposure What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk Ship Builders, and Navy Veterans Contact Us There are legal remedies for most people who suffer disease or disability as a result of exposure to asbestos. These remedies are way of recovering compensation for your injury. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, or Asbestosis, call us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. The Principal Remedies Are: a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products to which you were exposed; § 524(g) Trust claims on the trusts set aside for asbestos victims by companies that are no longer in litigation; a worker's compensation claim against the employer that you worked for when you were exposed to asbestos; other disability benefits including veterans and social security disability benefits. Some or all of these remedies may be available to you, but whatever remedy is available, it is best pursued with the assistance of an attorney. Be aware that most jurisdictions have time limits for filings claims. These time limits are called “statutes of limitation” and generally prohibit lawsuits or other claims for injuries that were diagnosed or known to you for more than a specified period of years. Statutes of limitation vary depending on the jurisdiction. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we encourage you to seek the advice of an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your claims may be prosecuted in a timely manner. In the event that you or a relative or friend is afflicted by an asbestos illness, call us at 757-223-4545 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. We will come to you. We have successfully handled thousands of asbestos-related claims since the 1970s. Asbestos Litigation Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Geoffr ey R. Grau Adam M. Hawks