Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly

The court found a trial judge did not err in withdrawing the appeals of a mother who challenged the court’s termination of her parental rights and approval of adoption for her child after she failed to show up for a ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Per Curiam Opinion Virginia Court of Appeals

Where the defendant in a murder case was allowed to cross-examine his co-defendant in order to show bias, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in prohibiting additional questions that would have revealed the sentence defendant was facing. Background ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Teresa M. Chafin Virginia Court of Appeals

Once the court bifurcated a couple’s divorce and equitable distribution cases, the husband’s death during the process of dividing marital assets did not deprive the court of jurisdiction or the ability to distribute property fairly and equitably. Background On March ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Judge William G. Petty Virginia Court of Appeals

In denying defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea to distributing heroin, the court noted his claim that the trial judge erred in accepting the plea without determining he was competent was first raised on appeal, he did not object ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge William G. Petty Virginia Court of Appeals

The creditor’s heirs in a case involving a company declared bankrupt in 1931 persuaded the court that an assignment agreement entitling another person to distributions was never enforced, and should not be enforced now. Background In 1931, Yellow Poplar Lumber ...

Tagged with: Bankruptcy Judge Paul M. Black U.S. Bankruptcy Court

In awarding plaintiff reasonable fees for prevailing on a discovery dispute against the Virginia Department of Corrections, the court said the appropriate rate was that charged by counsel in the Western District of Virginia, Abingdon Division, because there was no ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Judge James P. Jones U.S. District Court - Western District

The assertions made in a breach of contract suit brought by a producer of firewood against a company that agreed to purchase its product did not give rise to claims for fraudulent inducement, quantum meruit and tortious interference. Background Cremium ...

Tagged with: Contract Judge Norman K. Moon U.S. District Court - Western District

Although an employee signed a general release agreement, the employer was not entitled to summary judgment because there is dispute whether the agreement provided rights more beneficial than under the law. Background James Tolle filed this employment discrimination action under ...

Tagged with: Employment Discrimination Judge Glen E. Conrad U.S. District Court - Western District

An openly gay woman who was terminated as deputy chief of police can sue the Town of Bedford for discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Background For eight months, the Town of Bedford employed Carla Spencer as ...

Tagged with: Employment Discrimination Judge Norman K. Moon U.S. District Court - Western District

Parties who claimed that sensitive and confidential personal information was at risk of being exposed in a suit brought by an insurer will not be allowed to intervene as defendants. Background RLI Insurance Company and Nexus Services Inc. entered into ...

Tagged with: Civil Practice Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District