The VLW Blog

Chesterfield County Deputy County Attorney Stylian “Stel” Parthemos has been honored by the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. with the 2013 Cherin Award for Outstanding Deputy or Assistant Local Government Attorney, presented at the association’s recent spring conference in Roanoke. Parthemos has been with the county attorney’s office since 1987; he became deputy county [...]

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A divorce court’s interpretation of a PSA to figure the trigger for the father’s support obligation did not rewrite their agreement, the Court of Appeals of Virginia ruled today. The 2010 property settlement agreement between Brian and Gracie McPhail said he would pay support of $550 per month “upon the sale of the house or [...]

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A Henrico County lawyer who wanted another tour of duty on the Virginia State Bar Council will get his wish, after defeating an incumbent representative. Daniel L. Rosenthal, who previously served two three-year terms, will return to council after competing with the two incumbents who sought reelection, Thomas A. Edmonds and Roger T. Creager. Edmonds, [...]

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A self-described “spiritual counselor” has lost her federal-court bid to avoid regulation as a business by Chesterfield County. Patricia Moore-King uses the trade name “Psychic Sophie,” and offers Tarot card readings and psychic and clairvoyant readings, in person, live online, over the telephone and via email. She leases office space in a business complex that [...]

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A special prosecutor concluded today that Chesterfield County police were justified in fatally shooting a lawyer after he fired at officers who had been called to his home. The lawyer, Richard C. Ferris II, confronted officers twice from the garage of the home after an overnight standoff about 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 28, according to [...]

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One defamation trial could lead to another as a Richmond circuit judge is seeking $1.35 million against a newspaper that allegedly accused the judge of playing politics with lawyers. Judge Melvin Hughes filed suit last week against the publisher of “The Richmond Voice” in Chesterfield County Circuit Court. At issue was an article in the [...]

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An age-discrimination case based on a demand for “21st Century skills” is set for trial in Richmond federal court this month. The case turns on what a school superintendent meant when he justified replacing the school system’s 60-year-old chief public information officer with her younger male assistant. The superintendent said he wanted “21st Century communication [...]

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Being linked to “developers” is not defamatory in Chesterfield County. Chesterfield County Circuit Judge Herbert C. Gill has dismissed a local businessman’s $1.35 million defamation suit against residents who opposed a sewer line the businessman supported by saying the businessman was “being paid by developers.” This claim and other statements occurred in letters the residents [...]

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And the winner in the latest round between Chesterfield County Circuit Clerk Judy Worthington and Chesterfield Chief Judge Michael C. Allen is… Allen. This morning the Supreme Court of Virginia entered a terse one-page order denying Worthington’s requests for a writ of prohibition and a writ of mandamus against Allen and dismissing her petition. The [...]

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Things must be a little prickly in the Chesterfield County Courthouse. Judy L. Worthington, clerk of circuit court, has filed a petition for a writ of prohibition and a writ of mandamus against Chief Judge Michael C. Allen over the designation of Aubrey M. Davis Jr., an attorney and former prosecutor in the county, as [...]

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