Heather East Files Tort Lawsuit Against Daniel Hillery Clark in McDowell County

Heather East has initiated a civil action against Daniel Hillery Clark in McDowell County Circuit Court, a filing summary shows. The docket number is CC-27-2026-C-4, the filing date is January 29, 2026, and the plaintiff’s counsel listed on the summary is Benjamin Dean Adams. The filing summary also records the case type field as "civil - tor," a designation that should be confirmed with the court records.

The filing summary provides the core identifiers the public and journalists use to track a case: parties, counsel, docket number, and filing date. Those items will be recorded on the McDowell County docket as the matter proceeds through pleadings, service, and any scheduling orders. At present the complaint and supporting exhibits are not summarized in the filing record available to the public through the posting that listed the new case.

Residents seeking details can obtain documents directly from the McDowell County Circuit Clerk’s office. The Circuit Clerk’s office is located at the McDowell County Courthouse in Welch, WV, and staff can advise on how to request copies of the docket sheet, complaint, summons, and any civil cover sheet. It may be beneficial to call ahead at (304) 436-8532 to confirm office hours, fees for copying, and the procedures for obtaining records. Consulting the docket sheet will also clarify whether the case type string "civil - tor" was a typographic truncation of "tort" or a different classification.

Understanding the local court structure helps put the filing in context. McDowell County’s Circuit Court is the highest trial court in the county, handling major civil cases and serious criminal matters. Magistrate Courts address misdemeanors, preliminary felony hearings, and smaller civil disputes, while Family Court handles domestic matters such as divorce and child support. Circuit Court records typically include filings, motions, orders, and, when hearings occur, transcripts that document the legal arguments and judicial decisions.

A separate entry visible on a federal docketing service concerns Dobbs v. McDowell County Circuit Court, a distinct federal habeas and civil rights matter (case number 1:19-cv-00735) that was filed in 2019 and terminated in 2022. That federal case, which referenced Judge David A. Faber and Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn in its docket history, is unrelated to the new state-court filing by Heather East.

For McDowell County residents, this filing is a reminder that local legal disputes are recorded and accessible. The next practical steps are to obtain the docket sheet and complaint from the Circuit Clerk in Welch to learn the specific allegations, any damages sought, and whether defendant Daniel Hillery Clark has entered an appearance or been served. Those documents will determine the schedule for answers, hearings, and any public proceedings that may follow.