Bookkeeper charged with $500K theft from law firm

Verdict slashed, lawyer referred for discipline

By Peter Vieth
Published: September 12, 2011
Tags: Charlottesville Circuit Court, Judge Edward Hogshire, Law Firms, Lawyer Discipline, Million-Dollar Verdicts, Sanctions, Wrongful Death

A Charlottesville judge slashed a record wrongful death verdict by two-thirds and ordered sanctions against the plaintiff and his lawyer in the aftermath of a hotly contested trial. Circuit Court Judge Edward L. Hogshire also referred Charlottesville lawyer Matthew B. Murray to the Virginia State Bar on three separate findings of wrongdoing, and referred Murray’s [...]

Firm: Don’t punish client for any sins of lawyer

By Peter Vieth
Published: August 3, 2011
Tags: Charlottesville Circuit Court, Judge Edward Hogshire, Law Firms, Million-Dollar Verdicts, Wrongful Death

Lawyers hoping to preserve a record $10.5-million verdict in a fatal concrete truck wreck say the actions of the plaintiff’s former attorney are sanctionable by the court – and potentially by the Virginia State Bar – but do not justify overturning the jury’s award. In pleadings filed July 29, Richmond-based Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, [...]

Top p.i. lawyer quits Allen firm

By Peter Vieth
Published: July 20, 2011
Tags: Charlottesville Circuit Court, Judge Edward Hogshire, Law Firms, Virginia State Bar, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

Charlottesville lawyer Mat-thew B. Murray, the immediate past president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, has resigned from his law firm and reportedly is leaving the practice of law. Murray’s resignation from Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, the largest personal injury firm in Virginia, came one day after the filing of legal papers accusing him [...]

Disappointed donors drop malpractice claim

By Peter Vieth
Published: July 13, 2011
Tags: Bankruptcy, Federal Courts, Judge Liam O'Grady, Judge Stephen S. Mitchell, Law Firms, Legal Malpractice

Disappointed donors who lost $1 million after the bankruptcy of a Virginia-based charity may have lost their last chance to find recovery or revenge. The story of John and Nancy Behrmann’s involvement in a “donor advised fund” managed by the bankrupt National Heritage Foundation Inc. is a case study in the fallout for donors when [...]

Ethics charges are filed over blog

By Deborah Elkins
Published: May 13, 2011
Tags: Chesterfield County Circuit Court, Constitutional, Federal Courts, Judge Frederick G. Rockwell III, Judge John A. Gibney Jr., Law Firms, Lawyer Discipline, Social Media, Virginia State Bar

Richmond lawyer Horace F. Hunter faces a June 10 disciplinary hearing before the Virginia State Bar on a charge that a blog on his law firm website does not carry a disclaimer. Hunter says the VSB’s demand for a disclaimer violates his First Amendment rights. He sued the VSB in federal court under 42 U.S.C. [...]

Butler Williams & Skilling breaking up after 17 years

By Alan Cooper
Published: May 12, 2011
Tags: Law Firms

The founding partners in Richmond’s Butler Williams & Skilling will part ways this summer after 17 years of practicing together. Harris D. Butler III said he, partner Rebecca H. Royals and at least one of the firm’s two associates will continue their practice of representing plaintiffs in employment disputes. Charles L. Williams said he and [...]

Attorneys, notaries on the hot seat over foreclosure filings

By Dolan Media Newswires
Published: May 10, 2011
Tags: Foreclosure, Law Firms

A Baltimore judge wants answers about signatures on foreclosure documents, and a Virginia law firm was summoned into court. Tough questions about the origin and authenticity of questionable signatures on foreclosure documents continued for a third consecutive day in Baltimore City Circuit Court Monday, this time with employees of Virginia-based Shapiro & Burson LLP taking [...]

Taking it off at the firm of Bowman and Brooke

By Deborah Elkins
Published: April 25, 2011
Tags: Health & Wellness, Law Firms

Rebecca Herbig’s nationwide litigation practice focuses on defending health care professionals. She’s taken a little time this year to concentrate on her own health care, by joining her colleagues at Bowman and Brooke LLP in their law firm’s “Biggest Losers Challenge.” The firm wrapped up its Challenge on April 6, and the Richmond office came [...]

Sign of the Times?

By dmc-admin
Published: April 18, 2011
Tags: Largest Law Firms, Law Firms

Many signs point to better economic times, but the biggest law firms in Virginia may be showing the fallout from the recession just now. During the worst stretch of the downturn, many law firms held steady and did not report a sharp drop in attorneys. But in 2011, the tables seem to have turned, according [...]