Christopher M. Turak focuses his practice in the areas of wrongful death and personal injury, with a special commitment to representing victims injured or killed by impaired drivers. Chris has represented victims in some of the highest profile cases in the Ohio Valley, including those injured or killed in workplace accidents, including coal mines and other worksites. He has successfully pursued wrongful death claims in automobile, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating signifies that Chris is ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for his knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chris joined the law firm in 2000 and is licensed to practice law in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
When Chris isn’t practicing law, he’s making a difference in the community. He is a longtime member and past president of the Marshall County Family Resource Network, which provides a wide variety of support and resources for residents of Marshall County. Chris has made over 100 presentations at local high schools as part of GKT’s anti-drinking and driving program called, “Booze & Cruise, You’ll Lose,” which was founded by the firm. The program seeks to educate and warn young drivers of the risks of impaired driving and encourages them to make smart decision. In addition, he has helped coordinate mock DUI crashes and trials at local high schools and summer camps, including the West Virginia Sheriff’s Leadership Camp. Chris also teams with WTOV9 every New Year’s Eve to provide free cab rides home to help make our roads safer over the holidays. Chris is Commissioner of the Ohio County Deputy Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission and also serves as a board member on the Grand Vue Foundation.
Chris lives in Wheeling with his wife, Shawn, who is also an attorney and serves Ohio County, WV as the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. They have have two sons: Matthew and Thomas. He and his family are active members of the parish of St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Education
- Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2000
- Carnegie Mellon University, B.S., 1987
Bar & Court Admissions
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania