Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly

When a BMW store applied for a renovation permit but then performed a demolition instead, the City of Rockville, Maryland, revoked the previously-granted permit. The company’s initial permit applications contained material misrepresentations, so it had no property interest that could ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Business Law Constitutional Due Process Judge Glen E. Conrad Municipal Real Estate

As in the Patent Act, a party prevailing on a Lanham Act claim need only prove an “exceptional” case meriting a fee award by a preponderance of the evidence. And no showing of bad faith is required. Background Appellant XYZ.com ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Attorneys Fees Business Law Evidence Judge Henry F. Floyd

In bringing breach-of-contract and -fiduciary-duty claims against a former employee who took a job with a competitor, an insurance company will be held to the arbitration clause contained in its agent agreement. Background In 2009, Defendant Ryan Gillenwater became an ...

Tagged with: Arbitration Business Law Contract Employment Employment Law Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District

A legal services company was entitled to a preliminary injunction against its former Chief Customer Officer, who resigned and began soliciting the company’s clients. The non-solicit and non-compete clauses in his employee agreement were reasonable and enforceable, notwithstanding separable blue-pencil ...

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

A settlement agreement allegedly procured by the defendant’s “debt negotiator” will not be enforced, and the defendant must produce responsive documents in compliance with the court’s most recent discovery order. Background Plaintiff Innotec LLC sued Defendant Visiontech Sales and its ...

Tagged with: Attorneys Business Law Civil Practice Contract Corporate Corporations Discovery Judge Glen E. Conrad U.S. District Court - Western District

A business owner suing his partner for contribution to their company’s shared debt could assert the claim even if he had not completely satisfied the debt, but he had not done so within the three-year limitations period. Background Plaintiff Timothy ...

Tagged with: Banking Business Law Contract Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District

A company seeking damages for misappropriation of trade secrets will be able to offer, through its expert, alternative methods among which the jury can choose to calculate an award. Damage calculations Cross-plaintiff JELD-WEN seeks damages only for Cross-defendant Steves & ...

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

A life insurance company was under no fiduciary duty to solicit required additional materials from the insured party in order to approve his coverage level, even though his employer had been deducting premium payments for the unapproved amount. Background Steven ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Business Law Employment Insurance Judge James A. Wynn Jr.

A defendant on the hook for almost $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages for conversion is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, since the plaintiffs’ conversion claim was based entirely on losses covered by the parties’ contract. ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Business Law Contract Evidence Judge Diana Gribbon Motz Tort

A long-term commercial lease with neither a common-law seal nor statutory seal substitutes was effectively month-to-month after a five-year term, and the trial court erred in focusing on “substance not form” to enforce the 15-year term. Background In 2000, a ...

Tagged with: Business Law Contract Justice D. Arthur Kelsey Landlord/Tenant Supreme Court of Virginia