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School sexual harassment suit can proceed
4th Circuit revives Title IX lawsuit, ruling a Virginia school board may have been deliberately indifferent to a transgender student's harassment.
Supreme Court clarifies distinction between retainer, advanced legal fee
The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled a lawyer violated ethics rules by keeping nonrefundable consultation fees without providing legal services.
Police dog bite claims invalid under ‘Bivens’
The 4th Circuit denied a Bivens claim over a U.S. Marshals-led task force injury, finding it a new context and declining to extend the cause of action.
4th Circuit decision on fees creates split with sister court
4th Circuit affirms fee award after improper removal but denies additional appellate fees, creating a split with the 7th Circuit over § 1447(c).
State amends med-mal certification timelines
Virginia now requires updated expert witness certifications in medical malpractice cases, with stricter deadlines and clarified language under new statutes.
Wrong causation standard used in whistleblower case
4th Circuit revives FSMA whistleblower claim, ruling that the district court wrongly used a strict causation test in termination case.
Juror bias in voir dire prompts new trial order
A biased juror was not struck during voir dire in a firearm case, prompting the Virginia Court of Appeals to reverse the conviction and order a retrial.
School board immune from tort suit
Virginia's Court of Appeals rules Prince William County School Board immune from tort claims, citing sovereign immunity under longstanding precedent.
4th Circuit panel vacates dismissal of housing discrimination case
4th Circuit revives discrimination claims over denied group home on Gibson Island, citing jury questions on fair housing and reasonable accommodation.
ABA opinion says biased jury strikes pose ethical violations
ABA Opinion 517 says using race-based peremptory jury strikes violates ethics rules under Model Rule 8.4(g), even if client-directed or AI-assisted.
Bench verdict upheld on appeal in nurse staffing agency lawsuit
The 4th Circuit upheld a $10M judgment against Steadfast Medical for misclassifying 1,100 nurses as contractors in violation of the FLSA.
Jury to decide duty to warn in deadly helicopter crash
4th Circuit revives lawsuit over helicopter crash, ruling a jury must decide if landowners and ag firms had duty to warn pilot of wire hazard.
Legal Tech
- AI in practice: How new technology is affecting litigation practice
- Experts foresee legal malpractice risk for those who eschew AI
- Legal Decoder launches AI-powered billing analytics interface
Verdicts & Settlements
- Negligence and Tort – E-bike collision leads to neck injury, psoriasis flare
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – ‘Daydreaming’ driver hit plaintiff walking by road
- Motor Vehicle Negligence 92-year-old dies after being hit by vehicle
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Motorcyclist suffers severe injuries in vehicle accident
- Medical Malpractice – Patient dies after alleged improper medicine admin
Opinion Digests
- Criminal – Doctor convicted of unauthorized distribution of oxycodone
- Tort – Assault and battery claims against postal employee are dismissed
- Immigration – Petitioner failed to connect fear of persecution to PSG
- Civil Procedure – District court won’t revisit three-year old decision
- Bankruptcy – Pro se debtor’s myriad motions and challenges are denied
- Criminal – Firearm possession sentence was not substantively unreasonable
- Appeals – Inmate’s untimely appeal is dismissed
