The VLW Blog

Virginia Beach lawyer Claude M. Scialdone pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of cocaine. Scialdone, 65, had disposition of the charge deferred for a year under the Virginia law that applies to first-time drug offenders. The charge will be dismissed if he gets in no further trouble while undergoing probation and performing 100 hours of community service. [...]

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While standing by his contention that he lacks the authority to ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as a matter of overall state policy, Gov. Bob McDonnell made it clear this afternoon that he will not tolerate such discrimination in the state’s executive branch. “Discrimination based on factors such as one’s sexual [...]

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The General Assembly unanimously elected former attorney general and legislator William C. Mims this afternoon to the Supreme Court of Virginia, effective April 1. The election was a foregone conclusion after his appearance Monday before the House and Senate Courts of Justice Committees as the only candidate for the position. Our report on that appearance [...]

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A Richmond federal jury has awarded family law practitioner Terry Batzli damages in his suit against his legal malpractice carrier. A client complained about an alleged drafting error in a settlement agreement and sued Batzli for malpractice. Batzli notified his carrier, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company. MLM said the notice of claim came too late, [...]

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