Obituaries
Published: September 8, 2008
William E. Fears
ONANCOCK—William E. Fears, a retired attorney who represented the Eastern Shore in the Virginia Senate for 24 years, died Aug. 25. He was 87.
A native of Jonesboro, Ark., Mr. Fears received a degree in metallurgical engineering from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He served as lieutenant in [...]
Ex-candidate pleads to two misdemeanors in deal
Published: September 8, 2008
LEESBURG—A former state Senate candidate has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges as part of a plea bargain in which the most serious charges of election fraud were dismissed.
Mark D. Tate, 43, agreed to pay a $1,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to [...]
Stafford minister gets five years for molesting boy
Published: September 8, 2008
STAFFORD—A clergyman who was the spiritual leader of a Stafford church for more than 40 years has been sentenced to five years in prison for molesting a teenage boy in the 1980s.
The Rev. George O. Lowe was sentenced Tuesday in Stafford Circuit Court on two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.
The 71-year-old minister [...]
Judge sets third trial for man accused in 1980 slaying
Published: September 8, 2008
A Hanover County judge has set the third trial in the case of a 6-year-old boy slain in 1980 in suburban Richmond.
Last week, the judge denied motions from attorneys representing John Bradley Crawford and set a Dec. 1 trial date.
Two previous trials for 47-year-old Crawford ended in deadlocked juries. He’s accused of abducting and killing [...]
Shipyard’s bargaining pact expires at end of October
Published: September 8, 2008
NEWPORT NEWS—With about a month and a half left on their current contract, some 8,000 shipbuilders at the Newport News shipyard are looking for a new contract.
United Steelworkers Local 8888 said it began contract negotiations last week with the Northrop Grumman shipyard on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The local has gone to the airwaves to [...]
Plan to moor barges on the James sparks outcry
Published: September 8, 2008
CHARLES CITY—In Charles City County, historic plantations, recreational boating and a wildlife refuge coexist along the James River as it meanders past Hopewell.
Now a company is asking to moor barges near the plantations and the refuge, sparking widespread opposition from environmental and preservation groups and government agencies.
The application is from Vulcan Materials Co., a large [...]
Government releases man held for five years
Published: September 8, 2008
ALEXANDRIA—Former professor Sami Al-Arian, who was once charged by the U.S. government with being a top Palestinian terrorist, has been released from custody for the first time in more than five years.
Immigration authorities released Al-Arian to the custody of his daughter, just hours before a federal judge had ordered the agency to explain Al-Arian’s continued [...]
Kaine to agency heads: Get ready to slash
Published: September 8, 2008
The Kaine administration ordered heads of state agencies last week to prepare contingencies for slashing their budgets by as much as 15 percent.
The order from Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s office went to directors of state departments as government copes with slowing economic growth and declining tax collections.
In the memo, officials are told to prepare separate [...]
VSB Disciplinary Actions
Published: September 8, 2008
On Aug. 20, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Tenth District Committee, Section II, imposed a public admonition with terms on Bristol lawyer Robert B. Dickert for violating professional rules that govern diligence, communication, and safekeeping property. According to the VSB, the misconduct occurred during his representation of a client who was trying to collect a [...]
Tort - Defamation - Political Campaign Literature 
Published: September 8, 2008
In this defamation action by a candidate for the Virginia Senate in 2003 against his opponent, the incumbent, based on statements in campaign literature, a Richmond Circuit Court sustains defendant’s demurrer to the claims based on failure to pay debt and bribery, but overrules the demurrer on the claims related to bankruptcy and taking money [...]
GET THE VLW DAILY ALERT
The Daily Alert from Virginia Lawyers Weekly brings you the latest legal news every morning in your e-mail. You’ll get headline news, a link to the day’s Top Opinion and more!
Click here for more info.
