When disputes arise at depositions, as they often do, lawyers will threaten to get the judge on the line to decide who’s right and who’s wrong. A discussion at last week’s bench-bar conference in Roanoke made one thing clear – ...
Read More »Panel backs reelection of Judge Alexander
A House committee has approved the election of Franklin County Circuit Judge William Alexander to a third eight-year term on the bench. Alexander came under scrutiny by the panel for his handling of a special grand jury that looked into management ...
Tagged with: Judgeships
Read More »School boards get coverage for special ed lawsuits
Virginia public school officials score a win at the Supreme Court of Virginia today with a decision that the state’s insurance plan for school systems must cover school districts for lawsuits under the federal special education law. The ruling means ...
Read More »Governments have immunity under Va. whistleblower law
A county employee who reported misdeeds by his supervisor – and was promptly fired – cannot sue for retaliation under the Virginia whistleblower law because the county is protected by sovereign immunity, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled today. There ...
Read More »Podiatrists can’t testify about causation, court holds
In a decision that may soon be mooted by the General Assembly, the Supreme Court of Virginia has upheld the exclusion of podiatrist testimony about the cause of a plaintiff’s foot injuries. Under the Virginia Code, podiatrists are not qualified ...
Read More »Court affirms lawyer discipline for ‘frivolous’ suit against doctor
The Supreme Court of Virginia will not second guess a decision to discipline a Falls Church lawyer for suing a doctor who never treated the lawyer’s client. The court decision comes in the case of Michael P. Weatherbee, who sued ...
Tagged with: Law Firms Lawyer Discipline Supreme Court of Virginia Virginia State Bar
Read More »Defense lawyers paid by Birth Fund 
Lawyers for medical care providers are being paid from the Virginia birth injury program for their work to get a deceased infant’s claim covered by the program, thus avoiding tort liability. The defense lawyers’ fee award was part of an ...
Tagged with: Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission
Read More »Hospital policy claim allowed in med mal lawsuit
Roanoke Circuit Judge Clifford Weckstein will allow a medical malpractice plaintiff to pursue his claim that a Carilion Clinic policy discouraging outside referrals led to medical complications. Weckstein ruled today in a hearing in the case of Ronald Burchett, according ...
Tagged with: Medical Malpractice
Read More »War of words breaks out at Kingsmill
A William & Mary law professor used legal “mumbo jumbo” to undermine the authority of the Kingsmill Community Services Association, accused the group’s lawyer in a letter delivered by police . The professor fires back, saying the tactic is a ...
Tagged with: Land Use & Zoning Real Estate
Read More »Police officer’s immunity will stand
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a finding that a Botetourt County officer had qualified immunity from a lawsuit claiming he unlawfully entered a home at night to investigate a missing teen aged girl. The 4th U.S. Court ...
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