Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Third lawsuit filed over coaster crash at Salem Fair  

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: April 16, 2012

ROANOKE — A Florida ride company faces another lawsuit over a roller coaster crash at the Salem Fair last summer.
The mother of Samantha Goad filed the $1 million lawsuit on her behalf against Deggeller Attractions this week in federal court in Roanoke.
The lawsuit says Goad suffered serious injuries when the car she was riding in [...]

Man pleads to fraud in mortgage rescues  

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: April 16, 2012

ALEXANDRIA — A Virginia Beach man has admitted to running a scheme in which he took thousands of dollars from homeowners and promised to modify their mortgages, but pocketed the money instead.
Sixty-eight-year-old Howard R. Shmuckler pleaded guilty last Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria to six counts of wire fraud. He faces up to 20 [...]

VLF announces new leader for Virginia CLE 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: April 9, 2012

The Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the Virginia Law Foundation has named Raymond White, an attorney currently in private practice in Albany, N.Y., as the next executive director of Virginia CLE.
Virginia CLE is the bar-sponsored provider of continuing legal education programs and publications for Virginia lawyers and is based in Charlottesville.
White will assume [...]

Law library group to meet at UR 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: April 9, 2012

The Virginia Association of Law Libraries will hold its spring meeting on April 13 at the University of Richmond School of Law.
The day-long program includes a session on Digitization Project Management, using as an example the Frank S. Tavenner Jr. Tokyo War Crimes Trial Papers held at the University of Virginia. UVA Law Library digital [...]

Vieth named VLW News Editor 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: April 9, 2012

Peter Vieth has been named as News Editor at Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Previously, he served as Legal Editor after rejoining the staff in 2008.
He served as a Legal Reporter for the paper in the early 1990s while getting his law degree from the University of Richmond. He was a radio reporter for WRVA before law [...]

U.S.: Va. treatment center operators to pay $6.85m

By The Associated Press
Published: March 29, 2012

MARION, Va. (AP) — The operators of a now-closed residential treatment center in southwest Virginia have agreed to a $6.85 million settlement with the state and federal governments over alleged substandard psychiatric treatment for adolescents.

The Justice Department announced the settlement Wednesday involving the former Keystone Marion Youth Center in Smyth County. The settlement involves Universal [...]

W&M’s Butler receives Traver Award from VSB 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: March 26, 2012

Lynda Butler, Chancellor Professor of Law at the William & Mary law school, is the 2012 winner of the Courtland Traver Award, presented by the Virginia State Bar’s Real Property Section. Section leaders presented the award to Butler at the 16th Annual Advanced Real Estate Seminar in Williamsburg on March 2.
The Traver Award, established [...]

UR program explores ethics of assassination 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: March 19, 2012

When governments use assassination as a tool, is it legal? Is it morally acceptable? Can it be justified under certain conditions? Does it matter if the target is a political, military or civilian leader?
Experts in law, public policy and philosophy will examine the morality, legality and nature of assassination and if it differs from [...]

Grand jury begins probe of Norfolk agency 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: March 19, 2012

A special grand jury investigation of the Norfolk Community Services Board is under way.
The 11-member panel convened for the first time March 14.
A former employee of the agency collected pay and benefits for 12 years without showing up for work.
Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Charles E. Poston told the panel that it’s not limited to investigating [...]

Lawsuit is planned over tunnel toll plan 

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: March 19, 2012

PORTSMOUTH — The state’s plan to charge tolls at two existing tunnels to help pay for a new tunnel connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth could end up in court.
Media outlets report that attorney Patrick McSweeney plans to file a lawsuit challenging the plan’s legality in Portsmouth Circuit Court.
McSweeney met March 12 in Portsmouth with an estimated [...]