Virginia Lawyers Weekly

The VLW Digital Edition – 2012 Issues 

Fertility pioneer Jones still telling his story 

By The Associated Press
Published: December 31, 2012

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Virginia scientist behind the country’s first in-vitro fertilization baby is turning 102 on Sunday. Dr. Howard Jones Jr. also is celebrating the publication of his latest book. It discusses the moral and legal implications of the in-vitro fertilization technique that once was considered radical but is commonplace today. Jones has [...]

U.S. law enforcement deaths down in 2012 

By The Associated Press
Published: December 31, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of law enforcement officers who died performing their duties in the U.S. declined by about 20 percent in 2012 after rising the two previous years, a non-profit organization reported Thursday. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said in a report that 127 federal, state and local officers have died [...]

Defense hopes dashed by dashboard camera 

By Deborah Elkins
Published: December 31, 2012
Tags: Civil Rights, Federal Courts, Judge Liam O'Grady

A dashboard recording showing a man with his hands raised near his head during an encounter with police supported the man’s civil suit against the officer who charged the man and dropped him to the ground with an elbow strike to the head. The officer who took the man down was not entitled to qualified [...]

Patient suffered necrotizing fasciitis after orthopedic surgery – Defense Verdict 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 31, 2012
Tags: Judge John E. Wetsel Jr., Medical Malpractice, Million-Dollar Defense Verdicts, Winchester Circuit Court

On July 30, 2008, plaintiff, a 350-pound, 22-year-old man with pre-existing venous stasis issues, was in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident and admitted to the hospital for a broken left tibia and fibula, and other trauma injuries. The patient underwent closed reduction internal fixation and rodding of the left leg that night. On Aug. 4, 2008, [...]

Peritonitis results from failure to diagnose appendicitis – $550,000 Settlement 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 31, 2012
Tags: Medical Malpractice

The plaintiff presented to the defendant emergency room physician with acute abdominal pain, which worsened with coughing, in addition to nausea, vomiting and chills, among other symptoms. She was diagnosed with constipation and discharged. Within two days, she presented to another emergency room and was diagnosed with acute suppurative appendicitis, with gangrenous necrosis. Following an [...]

Motorcyclist’s leg crushed when struck by drunken driver – $600,000 Settlement 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 31, 2012
Tags: Personal Injury, Prince William County Circuit Court

On March 26, 2012, the 32-year-old plaintiff was injured while riding his motorcycle on Prince William Parkway. Plaintiff was in a right turn lane when the defendant, driving while intoxicated, drifted into the turn lane and struck the plaintiff’s motorcycle, causing it to fall onto its side, slide off the roadway and hit an embankment. [...]

Health center failed to screen for prostate cancer – $1,000,000 Settlement 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 31, 2012
Tags: Federal Courts, Medical Malpractice, Million-Dollar Settlements, Wrongful Death

Decedent was a truck driver on the Eastern Shore. During the period of October 1999 to May 2007 he was treated at the Eastern Shore Rural Health Center more than 60 times for various ailments, and considered the clinic to be his family physicians. Decedent was older than 50 when he began his visits to [...]

Plaintiff ran off road due to snow, defendant claims – Defense Verdict 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 31, 2012
Tags: Judge J. Michael Gamble, Nelson County Circuit Court, Personal Injury

Plaintiff was driving north on Route 29 crossing the Tye River Bridge. She was passed by two tractor-trailers, and then felt a crash and heard an explosion, which she asserted was the defendant running into the rear of her vehicle. Plaintiff’s vehicle went off the right side of the road, resulting in substantial property damage [...]

Hearing set for man with board at Sandy Hook school in Virginia

By The Associated Press
Published: December 28, 2012

STRASBURG (AP) — A man who walked into northern Virginia’s Sandy Hook Elementary School with a 2-by-4 with the words “High Powered Rifle” days after a gunman killed 26 at a Connecticut school with the same name is scheduled to appear in court. Thirty-three-year-old Christopher Johnson of Strasburg was arrested Dec. 19. Authorities said he [...]