BECKLEY —
A California man awaiting trial on extortion charges may have to get a third team of lawyers.
Aspiring actor Vivek Shah fired his first attorney in December. On Tuesday, his current legal team filed a motion to withdraw as counsel.
The reasons are unclear. All federal court filings in the case are sealed. Motions are just listed on the docket.
The West Hollywood resident was indicted last summer on charges he threatened to kill relatives of West Virginia coal company owner Christopher Cline if Cline refused to pay $13 million.
Shah allegedly targeted four other wealthy but unnamed victims, including a film studio co-founder from Connecticut, oil and gas millionaires in Texas and Florida, and an Internet company founder from Chicago.
His trial is set for Feb. 25 in Beckley.
Today's Front Page
Lawyers want out of California man's extortion case
Chris Cline was allegedly one of man's targets
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Wanted: A moderate speaker in the House
Rick Thompson’s sudden departure as speaker of the House of Delegates triggered a flurry of politicking by a handful of fellow lawmakers, all eager to take the gavel from him next month in a special session.
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One more month for stormwater management facility
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Veterans get warm welcome in Rainelle
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Turnpike officials expect major traffic issues for Jamboree and FOC Auto Fair
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Cold front to bring nippy conditions
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Independence senior quiet, artistic, humorous
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Familiar flooding
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Governor names Bowling state DHHR secretary
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Health care professional no stranger to southern W.Va.
The new secretary of West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources is certainly no stranger to southern West Virginia. In fact, she has grown up and served the region for a number of years in various capacities across the broad spectrum of the health care industry.
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Wanted: A moderate speaker in the House



