The latest news and cases from the Supreme Court of Virginia
">Lawyer seeks fee split, wins suit against her P.C. Posted in Civil Cases, Supreme Court Opinions on Apr 22nd, 2012
A lawyer who discovered the other shareholder in her two-person firm was writing checks to family members on the firm’s trust account can sue on behalf of their professional corporation, the Supreme Court of Virginia said on April 20.
Read the full story here.
">Stepchild loses out under ‘mirror-image’ wills Posted in Civil Cases, Supreme Court Opinions on Apr 20th, 2012
“Mirror-image” language in reciprocal wills is not enough to keep a surviving spouse from diverting a stepchild’s inheritance, under a new decision released today by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
When Arvid and Lucy Keith married in 1972, each had a child from a prior marriage. In 1987, the Keiths made wills that were “mirror images,” [...]
">School principal faces gross negligence claim Posted in Civil Cases, Supreme Court Opinions, Uncategorized on Apr 20th, 2012
An assistant principal hit with a $1.25 million negligence award after he failed to act on a warning about a fight at his high school now faces a new trial on a claim of gross negligence.
In 2010, a Gloucester County Circuit Court awarded $5 million in damages to Gregory Joseph Gagnon in his suit against [...]
">Missing manhole cover ‘open and obvious’ Posted in Civil Cases, Unpublished Orders on Mar 30th, 2012
A woman who fell into an open manhole while walking her dog cannot sue the contractor whose employee was on his way to her house to warn her about the manhole. The Supreme Court of Virginia agreed on March 30 the case could be thrown out on contributory negligence.
Elizabeth Badawy left her townhouse to [...]
">Liability policy not ‘ambiguous” Posted in Civil Cases, Unpublished Orders on Mar 29th, 2012
A vehicle’s driver was a person “responsible for use” of the vehicle under an auto liability policy, and the carrier could not contest coverage on that point, the Supreme Court of Virginia said.
The provision at issue said an “Insured Person” meant “any person given permission by you or a family member to use or [...]
">Contractor suit goes back for business conspiracy damages Posted in Civil Cases, Uncategorized, Unpublished Orders on Mar 29th, 2012
A fight over a contractor’s right to excavate on Montgomery County property is coming back from the Supreme Court of Virginia. The high court revived the contractor’s summary judgment win on claims for business conspiracy and malicious prosecution, and sent the case back for a trial on damages, including treble damages and attorney’s fees for [...]
">Top verdicts, insurance disputes on argument docket Posted in Civil Cases, Uncategorized on Feb 13th, 2012
The Supreme Court of Virginia has set its oral argument docket for the week of Feb. 27, including its rehearing of its Sept. 16 decision in AES Corp. v. Steadfast Ins. Co., which features an insurance claim based on global warming.
In its earlier decision in AES, the high court said a Virginia energy company sued [...]
">‘Access’ form for tree removal was not written contract Posted in Civil Cases, Uncategorized, Unpublished Orders on Dec 16th, 2011
A property owner who signed an “Asset and Authorization Card” to allow a contractor to remove storm-damaged trees was not bound by a written contract, the Supreme Court of Virginia says.
In a Dec. 9 unpublished order in Hall & Wilson Construction Inc. v. Bowers, No. 101566, the high court upheld a Chesterfield County Circuit Court [...]
">Cat caretaker wins nursing-home contract case Posted in Civil Cases, Unpublished Orders on Oct 21st, 2011
A nursing home that tried to collect on a resident’s bill has lost its appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia.
In INOVA Health Systems Servs. Inc. v. Bainbridge, the facility pursued Susan Bainbridge, who held a power of attorney for the elderly resident, who allegedly had used the resident’s money for her own benefits. [...]
">Suspension upheld for tippling on trip to France Posted in Civil Cases, Unpublished Orders on Oct 21st, 2011
A high-school student’s suspension for drinking alcohol on a school trip to France will stand, as the Supreme Court of Virginia today reversed a Loudoun County Circuit Court’s decision that overturned the suspension.
In April 2009, Eileen M. Tagg-Murdock’s daughter was one of 11 Dominion High School students suspended for violating a Loudoun County School Board [...]