EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2002


CHAMPION ANNOUNCES JURY VERDICT IN CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THE COMPANY


Huntington, WV- - Champion Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ/CHMP) On February 16, 2002 a
jury verdict was rendered against the Company in a civil action brought against
the Company in state court in Jackson, Mississippi.

The plaintiffs in this civil action asserted that the Company and its Dallas
Printing Company, Inc. subsidiary had engaged in unfair competition and other
wrongful acts in hiring certain of its employees. The jury awarded the
plaintiffs $1,745,000 in actual damages and $750,000 in punitive damages.

The Company has been advised that it has no insurance coverage for this award.
The Company under Mississippi law has a guaranteed right to appeal. The Company
intends to appeal this verdict and has been advised by counsel that it has
multiple grounds for an appeal and a reasonable basis for believing that an
appeal would be successful.

Champion is a commercial printer, business forms manufacturer and office
products and office furniture supplier in regional markets east of the
Mississippi. Champion serves its customers through the following
companies/divisions: Chapman Printing (West Virginia and Kentucky), Stationers,
Champion Clarksburg, Capitol Business Interiors, Carolina Cut Sheets and
Champion Morgantown (West Virginia), The Merten Company and Garrison Brewer
(Ohio), Smith & Butterfield (Indiana and Kentucky), Bourque Printing, Upton
Printing, Transdata Systems and Diez Business Machines (Louisiana), Dallas
Printing (Mississippi), U.S. Tag (Maryland), Interform Solutions and
Consolidated Graphic Communications (Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey),
Donihe Graphics (Tennessee) and Blue Ridge Printing (North Carolina and
Tennessee).

Certain Statements contained in the release, including without limitation
statements including the word "believes", "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or
words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general
economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development
plans and other factors referenced in this release. Given these uncertainties,
prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any
such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or
developments.


Contact: Todd R. Fry, Chief Financial Officer at 304-528-5492