Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly

Rather than construing an ambiguous tax statute against the Commonwealth, the “add-back” statute intended to close a loophole – wherein a corporate entity pays royalties to an affiliated intangible holding company – required a national retail store to count such ...

Tagged with: Administrative Business Law Corporations Justice William C. Mims Supreme Court of Virginia Taxation

High-demand customers can purchase renewable energy from competitive service providers under a statutory framework for “individual retail customers.” Background This appeal presents the question whether certain large electricity consumers can purchase electricity from any licensed supplier of energy in the ...

Tagged with: Administrative Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Environmental Regulated Industries Supreme Court of Virginia Utilities

A media company had the right to terminate its distribution agreement when the distributor sent Discovery Channel programming over the “open internet.” Extrinsic evidence weighed strongly against the distributor’s contention that the contract allowed this distribution method. Background This case ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Contract Judge Albert Diaz Telecommunications

Even though discovery was still open at the trial level, class-action plaintiffs could not present evidence creating a triable dispute about whether security-system manufacturers were vicariously liable for retailers’ TCPA violations. Background Appellee UTC Fire & Security Americas Corp. sold ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Business Law Consumer Protection Contract Judge Allyson K. Duncan Telecommunications

In protracted trade-secrets litigation, claims by successor organizations to a government subcontractor failed to demonstrate a valid contractual expectancy that could support their claims of tortious interference with a business expectancy. Background Plaintiffs L-3 Communications Corp. and L-3 Applied Technologies ...

Tagged with: Business Law Contract Corporate Judge T.S. Ellis III Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Financial documents submitted to a valuation company and later sought by subpoena were not privileged under either attorney-client privilege or the work-product doctrine. In any event, the defendant’s motion to quash the subpoena was untimely filed. Background This action revolves ...

Tagged with: Business Civil Procedure Evidence Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The patent-holder and licensee for a patented hair clip were granted leave to amend their patent-infringement claims against a former licensee who continues to sell products that the patent covers. Background Plaintiff Chan Soo Kim is listed as the inventor ...

Tagged with: Business Law Intellectual Property Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Patent Disputes U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Outstanding stream-of-commerce issues prevented the court from immediately ruling on the defendant’s claim that the court lacked personal jurisdiction. Background Plaintiff MYA Saray LLC manufactures and distributes tobacco products, including hookahs and accessories. The company also owns a number of ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Intellectual Property Judge Glen E. Conrad Patent Disputes U.S. District Court - Western District

Three patents for “high-tech snooping” processes used for online marketing were not enforceable. The internet context didn’t establish sufficient inventiveness over conventional, abstract concepts. Background This case involves technology that helps businesses pry into peoples’ personal preferences and privacy. Advertisers ...

Tagged with: Commercial Intellectual Property Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Patent Disputes Telecommunications U.S. District Court - Eastern District

This appeal arose from a contract dispute between Appellee BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., a U.S. defense contractor, and Appellant Republic of Korea and its Defense Acquisition Program Administration. BAE sought a declaratory judgment that it had not ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Business Law Civil Procedure Contract Corporate International Law Judge Diana Gribbon Motz