Ms. Cyrus joined the firm as an associate in June 1998, was elected a member in January 2002, and became an equity owner in January 2014. Ms. Cyrus’s practice focuses on general insurance defense. This includes complex high-stakes civil, constitutional rights cases with a particular focus on the defense of state, public, and private entities in cases involving civil rights violations in many settings, such as correctional facilities, schools, churches, and the workplace, as well as premises liability. As a former West Virginia public school teacher certified to teach English-Language Arts 5-12, she enjoys representing county boards of education, principals, teachers, and other school personnel.
Ms. Cyrus has over 25 years of experience handling insurance defense cases at trial and appellate levels. She has served as lead counsel in trying many cases to defense verdict, inclusive of several week-long civil rights trials, including claims of alleged sexual assault, age discrimination, and other allegations of employment law misconduct, as well as numerous auto negligence cases. Ms. Cyrus often lectures on the topic of avoiding sexual harassment and other discrimination in the workplace. She also frequently counsels insurers on evaluating and handling claims in all aspects of the claims handling process.
Her standing in the legal community has earned her Martindale-Hubbell’s prestigious “AV” Rating, which signifies that peers rank her at the highest level of legal ability and professional ethics. She is recognized by Best Lawyers® as one of the Best Lawyers in America© for her work in Employment Law - Management, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Insurance.
Ms. Cyrus has two sons and two stepsons and is married to Dwayne Cyrus, a firm member/equity owner.
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Education / Admissions
Bar Admissions
U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, 2023
U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, 1994
Education
J.D., West Virginia University College of Law
- Honors: Governor, 4th Circuit, American Bar Association Law Student Division, American Bar Association
Law Student Division’s Bronze Key Award, Recipient of a West Virginia State Bar Auxiliary ScholarshipB.S.Ed, cum laude, Concord University
- Honors: David S. Roth Memorial Outstanding English Major Award as the graduating English Major
with the highest grade point average, James B.Shrewsbury JR. Award for Academic ExcellenceRepresentative Cases
Keefer v. Ferrell, 655 S.E.2d 94 (W.Va., 2007)
Withrow v. Williams, 216 W.Va 385, 607 S.E. 2d 491 ( 2004)
Stevens v. West Virginia Institute of Technology, 207 W.Va. 370, 532 S.E.2d 639 (1999)
Murray v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 203 W.Va. 477, 509 S.E.2d 1 (1998)
McCormick v. West Virginia Dept. of Public Safety, Div. of Corrections, 202 W. Va. 189, 503 S.E. 2d 502 (1998)
Jeffrey v. West Virginia Dept. of Public Safety, Div. of Corrections, 198 W. Va. 609, 482 S.E.2d 226 (1996)
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Experience & Involvement
Classes/Seminars Taught
"Whose Case Is It Anyway? Handling Bad Faith Claims," (three-person panel), ANPAC American National Claims/Litigation Training Conference, 2019
“Understanding Spinal Injuries to Maximize Your Defense,” (three-person panel), ANPAC 20th SIU/MIST/Litigation Conference, Springfield, Missouri, June 24, 2015
“Managing Communications to Avoid Bad Faith,” ANPAC 2005 SIU/MIST/LITIGATION 9th Annual Training Conference, Springfield, MO June 9-10, 2005
“The Economic Expert in Litigation,” ANPAC 2004 SIU/MIST/LITIGATION 8th Annual Training Conference, Springfield, MO, June 10-11, 2004
“Experts: Hiring, Deposing, Cross-Examining,” ANPAC 2003 SIU/MIST/LITIGATION Annual Training Conference, Springfield, MO, June 5-6, 2003
Special Education Workshop “Conducting Legally Defensible I.E.P. Meetings, Providing Testimony, and Witnessing,” RESA-V Meeting, Parkersburg, WV, March 5, 2001
Special Education Workshop “Conducting Legally Defensible I.E.P. Meetings, Providing Testimony, and Witnessing,” RESA-IV Meeting, Charleston, WV, December 9, 1999
Publications
“LEGAL MATTERS: COMBATING CYBERBULLYING” (Co-authored) NAESP, Communicator, March 2015, Volume 38, Issue 7
“School Playground Safety: Does your Playground Make the Grade?”
Legal Matters, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) – November 2012
Involvement/Awards
2014 Martindale Hubbell AV Rating
2015 Martindale Hubbell Client Distinction Award
Past President, Alum Creek Elementary School’s Local School Improvement Council, 2012-2014
Professional Associations and Memberships
West Virginia Bar Association
Kanawha County Bar Association
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance
