Russell D. Jessee | Member

PHONE (304) 353-8103

EMAIL russell.jessee@steptoe-johnson.com

LICENSURE DC | VA | WV

EDUCATION J.D. Washington and Lee University School of Law

Russell Jessee is the leader of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group.  His practice focuses on resolving disputes for business clients.

Mr. Jessee litigates contract disputes for clients in the banking, insurance, healthcare, and gaming industries, among others.  He defends creditors and debt servicers in consumer credit litigation.  He defends businesses in cases involving unfair trade practices, antitrust violations, business fraud, and other business torts.  Most recently, he has been part of the national defense team representing a large pharmaceutical distributor defending lawsuits by state and county officials and agencies making claims about opioid distribution.  

Mr. Jessee represents businesses in disputes before regulatory agencies.  He pursues commercial debtors for commercial creditors, and he pursues medical providers who fraudulently submit claims to health insurers.  Mr. Jessee also defends businesses in difficult employment cases, particularly those involving trade secrets and employment contract issues. 

Mr. Jessee also has significant experience defending class actions.  His practice extends to reviewing contracts during negotiations to increase protections for his clients and to help decrease litigation risk down the road.  Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Jessee was managing editor of The Pocahontas Times, in Marlinton, West Virginia.  

 

Click here to read: Avoiding CCPA Debt Collection Traps – A Periodic Reminder , WV Bankers Magazine, Winter 2020

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCECo-lead counsel defending large pharmaceutical distributor in more than 3,000 opioid lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide; responsibilities include developing arguments for and implementing removal of state court suits to federal court

Lead counsel for large health insurer in a purported class action by a participating network doctor, alleging violations of state statutes governing the relationship between health insurers and network doctors, in which the insurer defeated the plaintiff’s motion to certify a class

Lead counsel for multiple banks, national creditors, and debt servicers in suits brought under the West

Every legal matter is different.  The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, including the facts of the case, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Russell D. Jessee, Memberwww.steptoe-johnson.com

Virginia Consumer Credit & Protection Act, the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and other consumer protection statutes

Obtained ERISA preemption dismissal of large healthcare provider from lawsuit seeking reinstatement of disability benefits

Lead counsel for national bank, obtaining defense verdict, in jury trial of aiding and abetting fraud claim

West Virginia counsel for national jewelry retailer in infringement actions against local retailer

Lead counsel for large health insurer against medical providers submitting wrongful and fraudulent claims for reimbursement

Lead counsel for video lottery operator in dispute with the West Virginia Lottery Commission over award of 10-year permits in a sealed-bid auction

Lead counsel for video lottery operators in contract disputes with video lottery retailers

Lead counsel for national equipment lender collecting on commercial debts in West Virginia

Represented seller of coal leases in multimillion-dollar sales contract dispute

Litigated execution on judgment issues for large telecommunications client that paved the way for a $7 million financing to proceed

Obtained dismissal of antitrust and unfair trade practices claims against doctor relating to his participation on hospital's privilege review committee

Represented manufactured housing retailer in antitrust dispute with a competitor

Conducted internal investigations and defended several clients, including large national companies, suspected of securities and other white collar violations

Represented employer clients in employment contract, wage payment, and gender discrimination cases

Obtained summary judgment on purported class claims for wage and hour violations and individual claim of discriminatory discharge

WORK EXPERIENCESteptoe & Johnson PLLC2005

Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C.1999-2005

MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDSPROFESSIONAL

The Best Lawyers in America®Super Lawyers®Defense Research InstituteJudge John A. Field, Jr., American Inn of CourtAccredited Fraud Investigator, University of Charleston, 2009Graduated summa cum laude and Order of the Coif, Washington and Lee University School of Law,

Every legal matter is different.  The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, including the facts of the case, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Russell D. Jessee, Memberwww.steptoe-johnson.com

1999Lead Articles Editor, Washington and Lee Law Review, 1998-1999Graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Virginia Tech 1988

INDUSTRY/CIVIC

Director, Friends of Pocahontas County Free LibrariesWest Virginia Bankers Association

Every legal matter is different.  The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, including the facts of the case, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Russell D. Jessee, Memberwww.steptoe-johnson.com