After practicing law for nearly 20 years in New Jersey and New York, Melissa “Missy” Luce returned to West Virginia to join Stuart Calwell's firm, The Calwell Practice, LC. After being elevated to Managing Attorney for several years, Stuart ultimately asked Missy and another colleague, Dante' diTrapano, to join him as partners in rebranding the firm to Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC to solidify its long-term growth.
Before moving to New Jersey early in her career, she spent the first six years of her practice of law in Charleston for Di Trapano & Jackson. Prior to returning to West Virginia, Missy spent many years handling medical malpractice and general personal injury litigation cases for the New Jersey law firm of Stephen S. Weinstein, PA. Her current practice continues to focus on medical malpractice, birth injury/trauma, pharmaceutical litigation, product liability, wrongful death, construction injuries, and personal injury litigation.
Missy graduated on the Dean’s List from Davis & Elkins College in 1983, Magna cum laude, including a semester of study abroad at Oxford University, and received her Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University College of Law in 1986 where she was honored as the Outstanding Graduate. Missy is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. As a result of her extensive trial and appellate work during her time in New Jersey, Missy was previously recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a distinction earned by less than one percent of New Jersey's legal profession. Missy is AV Preeminent® Peer Rated, an honor bestowed by Martindale-Hubbell® for achieving the highest level of professional excellence for her legal knowledge, communication, and ethical standards. She was also recognized by Super Lawyers in 2020, a distinction held by no more than 5% of a state's lawyers.
Missy enjoys contributing to various programs in our community, including the Special Olympics and Project Hope, and she has volunteered as a youth basketball coach for the YMCA. In 1982, she participated in mission work for Project Serve in the Dominican Republic. In 1985, she was selected to work as an intern for former WV Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV. While in New Jersey, she served as counsel to the Morris County Democratic Committee from 2002 until she returned to West Virginia in 2008, and was a member of the Visiting Nurses Association of Northern New Jersey’s Board of Trustees from 2001 until 2008. Following the September 11, 2001 tragedy, she served as a volunteer attorney for Trial Lawyers Care, providing free legal representation to victims and their families. Missy served as a member of the Board of Trustees of her alma mater Davis & Elkins College from 1987 to 1998 and from 2003 to 2012. Born in Fayetteville, West Virginia, she resides in Charleston and is an avid outdoors enthusiast, having formerly been a whitewater guide on the world-renowned New River. She takes particular delight in having bungee jumped, skydived, and hang-glided in many different countries, although she is now retired from such ventures!
Memberships
American Association for Justice, Birth Trauma Litigation Group
New Jersey American Association for Justice, Board of Governors (inactive)
Injury Board
West Virginia Association for Justice
Honors
AV-Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence – Martindale-Hubbell
America's Most Honored Professionals, Top 1% (2018-2019)
American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 10 Best Law Firm for Client Satisfaction in Personal Injury (2019-2020)
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Best Attorneys of America, Lifetime Charter Member
Board of Governors, New Jersey AAJ (formerly NJ-ATLA)
Certified as Civil Trial Attorney by Supreme Court of New Jersey (previously recognized while practicing law in New Jersey)
Lawyers of Distinction (2019)
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney (2015-16, 2018)
National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Super Lawyers, West Virginia Plaintiff Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice (2020)
West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow (2020; induction ceremony postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions)