Our Staff

Legal Clerks

Brooke Ann Gruver, Legal Clerk

Brooke Ann Gruver, a WVU College of Law graduate, has always been passionate about helping others and is dedicated to pursuing justice for our clients. Learn more about Brooke.

Madison Messinger, Legal Clerk

Madison is an alumna of West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry along with minors in human biology and mathematics. She then attended West Virginia University School of Medicine where she obtained a master’s degree in health sciences.

Before attending law school, Madison worked as a chemist in Morgantown, WV. She then attended West Virginia University School of Law where she was an active member of multiple organizations including the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society and spent her final year of law school as a student attorney in the Family Law Clinic.

In her free time Madison enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching sports, reading a good book, and most of all spoiling her Maine Coon mix cat, Ava.

Hunter Sims, Legal Clerk

Hunter Sims is a native from Fairmont, West Virginia. He pursued an education at West Virginia University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2020 and later graduated from the WVU College of Law in 2023. During law school, he was involved in advocating for individuals through the West Virginia Innocence Project Clinic. In his free time, Hunter enjoys going skiing, hunting, and reading books.

Paralegals

Jennifer Maxwell, Senior Paralegal

Sr. Paralegal Jennifer Maxwell started her career in the legal field over 29 years ago as a legal assistant. A West Virginia native and huge animal lover, Jennifer and her husband reside in Masontown with their two rescued American Pitt Bull Terriers, Chela and LuLu, four horses, several kitties, and a chinchilla. Jennifer loves spending time with her family, especially her three nephews, and going for long ATV rides with friends. Most Sundays you can find Jennifer baking cakes, pies, or critiquing her homemade bread recipe.

Bob Swiger, Paralegal

Paralegal Bob Swiger started his career in law after obtaining his Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from West Virginia Business College in March 1996. He immediately went to work for James Wilson Douglas, L.C., an attorney focusing on family law located in Sutton, West Virginia, where he was a paralegal and office manager. Bob worked for Mr. Douglas until October 2005, when he went to work for Judge Robert Reed Sowa of the Family Courts of Upshur, Lewis and Braxton Counties as the Family Court Case Coordinator until December 2016. While working for the Family Courts, he was on the Board of Directors of the Tri-County Visitation Center. In January 2017, he went to work as a paralegal for Isner Law in Elkins, West Virginia. Finally, Bob came to work for Klie Law Offices in September 2020.

Bob is a native of Harrison County, West Virginia. In his spare time, he enjoys science fiction and fantasy, comedy, spending time with his family and making primitive furniture and crafts. Bob is married and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Lyndell Hamilton, Paralegal

Lyndell and her husband recently purchased a home in Western Maryland and live there with their two dogs. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s degree from Liberty University. She has enjoyed working in the legal field since finishing college. Lyndell and her husband love to travel and explore new places, but also love spending time at home by the pool with their dogs.

Marcus Huffman, Paralegal

Marcus is a former intern of Klie Law who now assumes a Paralegal position at the same firm that sparked his journey toward attending law school. He is a recent graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College with a B.S. in English, as well as with taking interests in history, biology, and legal studies along the way.

Marcus uses his free time to write, as his work has been published in a few literary and art journals dedicated to projecting Appalachian art. He has even served as a lead copyeditor for multiple publications and organizations while in college. When not at a desk writing, he can be found cooking in his kitchen, where he enjoys imitating the cuisine of great culinary minds, such as Thomas Keller.

Legal Assistants

Madison Scott, Legal Assistant

Madison Scott is a resident of St. Marys, West Virginia. She earned her A.A. from West Virginia University at Parkersburg as a member of the Class of 2022. A few weeks later, she went on to graduate from St. Marys High School in the Class of 2022. To further her education, she earned her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in English at West Virginia University as a member of the Class of 2023. In her free time, she loves to read and spend time with her family and friends. She especially loves spending time with her Bulldog, Skye.

Jennifer Davenport, Receptionist / Legal Assistant

Jennifer resides in Meigs County Ohio with her husband of 15 years and their five children. She has two boys and three girls ranging from 15 months to 20 years with her eldest a junior at West Liberty University. Most of her spare time is spent enjoying family activities. Her hobbies include watching her children compete in their sporting events and traveling to the different games and locations. She also enjoys trying new out of the normal restaurants with her husband. She has spent ten years working in the medical field, and recently completed her associate degree in criminal justice. She looks forward to the new chapter and experiences at Klie Law Office.

Kelly Tessum, Legal Assistant

Kelly Tessum is a resident of Vienna, West Virginia, where she lives with her husband and their two wonderful children.

She is a 2021 graduate from Washington State Community College, and a 2022 graduate from Mid-America College of Funeral Service, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class.

Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family at the local lakes, taking camping trips to the mountains, and game nights with friends. She can also be found with a good book and a comfy blanket on lazy days.

Administrative Staff

Samantha Hanson, Operations Manager

Samantha Hanson has proudly worked for the Klie Law Offices team since 2015. She is a West Virginia native who resides in Buckhannon with her husband, Matthew, and their two cats. Samantha is a 2015 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College and an alumna of Zeta Tau Alpha, for which she currently serves as treasurer. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing golf with her husband, being creative and eating donuts from the local Donut Shop.

Scott Buchanan, Marketing Operations Manager

Scott hails from New Jersey, but has made West Virginia his home for over 20 years. He’s a graduate from West Virginia Wesleyan College with majors in both theatre arts and communications. His love for technology and passion for storytelling has helped create conversations around local businesses and organizations for over 15 years.

He currently lives in Buckhannon with his wife and daughter, three ungrateful cats, and dozens of tropical fish. Scott’s downtime includes spending time with his family, streaming on Twitch and YouTube, playing video games, contributing to community theatre, and introducing the world of 3D printing to everyone he can.

Michelle Zickefoose, Client Services Manager

Michelle Zickefoose has lived in Buckhannon her entire life, and couldn’t imagine a better place to live. She has been with Klie Law Offices since 2016, and she enjoys helping each and every client who walks through the door.

When she’s not at work, you can find her hanging out with her husband and their two children, or reading a good book. She loves attending her children’s sporting events, shopping, and baking. She is also a huge animal lover and has several furry friends at home. She is coffee obsessed and is always listening to loud music.

Mary Ella Cogle, Regional Office Manager

Mary Ella Cogle, better known as Office Momma, thrives on taking care of everyone around her. She and her husband, Billy, reside in Camden, West Virginia where they raise beef cattle. Mary Ella finds joy in spending time with her children and grandchildren, Warren (wife Jennifer) and grandchildren Kenley Anne, Addie Mae, and Reid Thomas of Charles Town, WV; Samantha (husband Cole), of Lost Creek, WV, and Madison, currently in the class of 2026 at VA/MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, VA.

She enjoys volunteering with community organizations, crafting, and fun in the sun. She loves Jesus, her family and serving in any way that she can. She feels very fortunate to have found a “home” at Klie Law Offices and right here in the middle of this great state.

Kari Fordyce, Legal Intake Specialist

Kari Fordyce is a lifelong resident of Wood County. She recently joined our team after being a stay-at-home mom for several years. Kari is looking forward to interacting and helping every client in any way she can.

In her free time, you can find her wrangling her two children. Otherwise, she can be found in the kitchen cooking or baking a family favorite. Kari is always up for a family get together, a road trip or a good nap.

Lynn Lendabarker, Legal Secretary/File Clerk

Lynn Lendabarker has spent the majority of her career in libraries, “buried in the stacks.” She has spent her time making information available and accessible to anyone who was searching for it.

She is originally from the State of Maine, spent some time in the U.S. Navy, moved to Chicago for 30+ years to raise her two daughters, and has relocated to West Virginia because she fell in love with the state and its people.

She has three amazing grandchildren, two of whom are Mountaineers through and through. She currently lives in Burnsville with her husband Ray and her stubborn cat, Snoopy.

She is looking forward to waking up every day in her happy place in West Virginia!

Emily Hellems, Receptionist

Emily Hellems has lived in West Virginia her entire life. She studied Criminal Justice at Potomac State College, earning her Associate’s degree. Emily then went on to study Criminology at West Virginia University, earning her Bachelor’s degree. Emily joined Klie Law Offices team in July 2023.

She enjoys crocheting and spending time with her cat, Lilly. Emily also loves to spend time with her family and close friends. She loves live music, the color pink, and crystals!

Iris Kolenich, Client Services Specialist

Iris began with Klie Law as an intern while attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she earned a degree in Communications and a minor in Musical Theatre. After graduating, Iris transitioned to our client service team where she embraces a traveling position—allowing her to meet with folks all over the state who need to be heard and someone to trust with a problem they are facing.

Serving is important to Iris, from our clients to the West Virginia National Guard as a Specialist. Most of her life has been spent in Buckhannon and she just recently moved to Clarksburg. Her favorites include trips to explore new places or hiking paths, attending events from drag racing to game nights, and most important of all, family and the time spent together.