‘Turner’ case on lawyer testimony is remanded 
By Paul Fletcher and Peter Vieth
Published: June 8, 2012
Tags: Criminal, Judge C. Peter Tench, Justice Donald W. Lemons, Justice William C. Mims, Newport News Circuit Court, Supreme Court of Virginia News
A closely watched case about a lawyer who testified against his ex-client has been remanded – but not on the grounds that observers were expecting. In Turner v. Commonwealth (VLW 012-6-089), the high court said that a trial judge in Newport News failed to use the right test to determine whether a witness was “unavailable” [...]
Appeal examines lawyer testimony against client 
By Peter Vieth
Published: December 7, 2011
Tags: Criminal, Judge C. Peter Tench, Justice LeRoy F. Millette Jr., Newport News Circuit Court, Supreme Court of Virginia News, Virginia Court of Appeals News
A Virginia Supreme Court panel is considering whether to allow an appeal in a case where a Newport News man was convicted of a shooting based largely on the testimony of his former defense attorney. If interest by a justice at a writ panel hearing is any indication, Mario Turner should get a hearing by [...]
Judge sets aside $5.225M verdict in Best Buy case 
By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: October 10, 2011
Tags: Judge C. Peter Tench, Million-Dollar Verdicts, Newport News Circuit Court, Personal Injury
A Newport News judge has set aside a multimillion dollar personal injury award against electronics retailer Best Buy on the grounds the verdict was excessive. In August, a seven-member jury awarded $5,225,000 to Michael Chavis, who was injured after a forklift ran over his foot at a Best Buy store in Newport News. During post-trial [...]
Plaintiff with neck injury gets almost 4 times his last demand – $210,000 Verdict 
By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: October 10, 2011
Tags: Judge C. Peter Tench, Newport News Circuit Court, Personal Injury
On Aug. 17, 2008, a John Doe defendant sideswiped the plaintiff’s vehicle, causing him to crash into a concrete Jersey wall on I-64 in Newport News. John Doe did not stop and was never identified. Plaintiff was 57 years old and retired at the time of the incident. He declined medical attention at the scene, [...]
Best Buy is hit with $5.225M verdict in NN 
By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: September 12, 2011
Tags: Judge C. Peter Tench, Million-Dollar Verdicts, Newport News Circuit Court, Personal Injury
A Newport News jury has awarded $5,225,000 to a 53-year-old man who was injured after a retailer’s forklift ran over his foot. On July 22, 2006, Michael Chavis was at a Best Buy store in Newport News looking at a television. In the same aisle, in front of the TV display, was a forklift that [...]
Lawyers question logic of attorney testimony case 
By Peter Vieth
Published: August 15, 2011
Tags: Ethics, Judge C. Peter Tench, Newport News Circuit Court, Virginia Court of Appeals News, Virginia State Bar
In a case that surprised some criminal defense lawyers, the Virginia Court of Appeals approved the use of a lawyer’s testimony against his former client in a decision released earlier this month. In a malicious wounding trial in Newport News, a key witness suddenly became forgetful about whether he saw defendant Mario Turner shoot the [...]
Vehicle blocking lane causes abrupt move by tractor-trailer – $200,000 Verdict 
By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: June 20, 2011
Tags: Judge C. Peter Tench, Newport News Circuit Court, Personal Injury
Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband. They were following a tractor- trailer on a rainy morning on U.S. 58 exiting the City of Suffolk in a 60 mph zone. A vehicle driven by Jane Doe had pulled out and was stopped in the right lane of the highway with no [...]

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