The L.A. Times offers a cautionary tale this week in a piece about how jury duty is becoming more of a hardship for members of the venire. In one civil trial, jurors who were already peeved at having to miss ...
Read More »Fighting Foreclosure 
Consumer lawyers in Virginia have been mounting an onslaught of legal challenges to foreclosures. Some of their tactics have succeeded, including a challenge based on a HUD lender’s failure to schedule a face-to-face meeting with a homeowner before foreclosure. Another ...
Tagged with: Consumer Protection Judge Richard L. Williams U.S. District Court - Eastern District
Read More »Delegate seeks change in judicial endorsements
Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, has asked New River Valley bar associations not to endorse judicial candidates but only to determine those with basic qualifications. The request has been met with some skepticism by members of the local bars, reports The ...
Tagged with: Judgeships
Read More »Doing something about the weather
We all complain, but at least one Virginia prosecutor is prepared to step up and throw the book at the weather gods for damaging public property and interfering with justice. You can read the indictment of Mother Nature at Ken ...
Tagged with: Criminal
Read More »Green state buildings bill still alive 
A bill to mandate energy-saving state buildings is alive in the General Assembly, with supporters hoping the measure will avoid the fate of similar legislation in previous sessions. The Green Public Buildings Act, Senate Bill 109, calls for new large ...
Tagged with: General Assembly
Read More »‘Move-over’ law could expand
A bill to broaden Virginia’s "move-over" law has advanced in the House of Delegates. The current law requires drivers to move to the left when approaching a stopped police, fire or rescue vehicle with flashing lights. (Slowing down generally is ...
Tagged with: Traffic Offenses
Read More »LEO on testimony by debt-collecting lawyer questioned 
Collections lawyers are raising concerns about a proposed Legal Ethics Opinion discouraging the common practice of lawyers testifying under oath about debts owed to their clients. A Virginia State Bar committee is seeking public comment on the proposed advisory LEO ...
Tagged with: Legal Ethics Opinion Virginia State Bar
Read More »Local bar endorses Alexander reappointment
The Franklin County Bar Association has taken the unusual step of endorsing the reappointment of a sitting judge . Franklin County Circuit Judge William Alexander was passed over when judicial reappointments were routinely approved by the General Assembly last month. ...
Tagged with: Judgeships
Read More »Asbestos liability bill clears House
The House of Delegates has narrowly passed legislation crafted to shield one corporation from liability for asbestos claims. The vote was 49-to-48 to pass HB 629 , introduced by Del. Terry Kilgore to protect Crown Cork & Seal of Philadelphia. ...
Read More »Philip Morris spared huge Florida verdict
A Florida judge said he plans to slash a $300 million verdict against Philip Morris, calling the jury award to a former smoker "excessive" and "shocking." Broward Circuit Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld indicated Friday that he would reduce the award, according ...
Tagged with: Products Liability
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