Va joins settlement in mortgage services matter

Library of Virginia honors 8, including Justice Powell

By The Associated Press
Published: March 11, 2013

(AP) Eight women are being recognized by the Library of Virginia for their pioneering achievements. They include the first African-American woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Virginia, Cleo Elaine Powell, and the primary health care provider on Tangier Island, Elizabeth Inez Pruitt. The others are Elizabeth Ambler Brent Carrington, who helped establish the [...]

Charges against owner of former Vick house dropped

By The Associated Press
Published: March 11, 2013

SURRY (AP) Charges against a woman accused of mistreating animals at Michael Vick’s former dogfighting headquarters were set aside Tuesday after a key witness failed to appear for her trial. According to media reports, prosecutors said charges against Tamira Thayne could be reinstated later. Thayne is the founder and director of Dogs Deserve Better, a [...]

State, mortgage modification firms settle complaints

By The Associated Press
Published: March 11, 2013

(AP) Virginia has reached settlements with two affiliated mortgage loan modification companies accused of illegally charging advance fees to clients seeking foreclosure rescue services. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced the settlements with Virginia Beach-based Rysnglo Financial Management and Los Angeles-based Mae Global Enterprises on Tuesday. According to the attorney general’s complaint, consumers’ payments passed through [...]

Mother sues psychologist following toddler’s death

By The Associated Press
Published: February 25, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) The mother of a 15-month-old boy who died on a court-ordered visit to his father filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Feb. 19 against the psychologist who sanctioned the visitation. Hera McLeod of Gaithersburg, Md., filed the $20 million suit in Fairfax County against Ashburn Psychological Services and psychologist Margaret Wong, alleging professional negligence resulting [...]

Seizure of Saltville Rescue Squad assets denied

By The Associated Press
Published: February 25, 2013

ABINGDON (AP) A federal judge has rejected a prosecution bid to seize cash and property from the Saltville Rescue Squad. U.S. District Judge James P. Jones says there’s no reliable way of knowing whether the assets were bought with proceeds from a fraudulent billing scheme. Prosecutors had sought the forfeiture of more than $330,000, several [...]

Smithsonian parking-lot thefts in Virginia exceeded $1M

By The Associated Press
Published: February 18, 2013

(AP) Authorities have determined that parking-lot employees stole more than $1.5 million from the Smithsonian at the museum’s Udvar-Hazy Air and Space annex in Chantilly, much more than first estimated. The new estimate came to light at a hearing Friday in federal court in Alexandria, where a lot attendant, Freweyni Mebrahtu, 46, of Sterling, was [...]

Senate passes bill on college group membership

By The Associated Press
Published: February 18, 2013

(AP) The Virginia Senate has passed legislation that would allow religious or political organizations at public colleges to restrict membership to people who agree with their mission. Colleges would be prohibited from denying recognition to such groups. Opponents said Monday that the legislation essentially sanctions discrimination by taxpayer-funded groups. Democratic Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath [...]

AG Cuccinelli announces settlement with book publisher

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: February 18, 2013

Virginia electronic books consumers will receive $680,000 under a nationwide settlement with a major book publisher over allegations of price fixing. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says Virginia’s share is part of a $20 million antitrust settlement with 32 attorneys general for the other states, districts and territories. The proposed agreement is with Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC, [...]

House speaker voids Senate GOP remap amendment

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: February 11, 2013
Tags: General Assembly

(AP) — Virginia’s Republican House speaker on Feb. 6 ruled against a measure muscled through by Senate Republicans to redraw all 40 state Senate districts, defusing a partisan dispute that had threatened to stymie progress on major legislation. House Speaker Bill Howell announced Wednesday that the vast Senate redistricting plan included in a Senate-passed amendment [...]