Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly

The court rejects plaintiffs’ claim that a county sheriff’s cooperation agreement with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Department of Homeland Security to enforce federal immigration laws is an unauthorized use of local taxpayer funds. Background Defendant Jenkins, ...

Tagged with: Culpeper County Circuit Court Immigration Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. Virginia Circuit Courts

Senior government officials, including the former Attorney General and the Postmaster General, cannot be held liable for claims they unlawfully relied on electronic surveillance to spy on a CBS television reporter because such conduct did not violate a clearly established ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Civil Rights Judge Robert B. King

A subcontractor that alleged a prime contractor for the Air Force conspired with another company to deprive it of work failed to establish tortious interference and aiding and abetting claims. The case was remanded. Background In 2004, the Air Force ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Barbara Milano Keenan Tort

A Maryland state agency enjoys 11th Amendment immunity against sexual orientation and disability discrimination claims brought by a former employee because the agency did not consent to suit in federal court. Background This appeal and ongoing proceedings in the District ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Employment Discrimination Judge Robert B. King

A defendant was properly categorized under the Armed Career Criminal Act, or ACCA, because his conviction for assault with intent to murder qualified as a “violent felony” under the statute. Background Kevin Battle appeals from the district court’s denial of ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr.

Where a woman died more than one month after taking prescription medication intended for another customer that was mistakenly delivered to her house, her estate could pursue claims of negligence against the pharmacy that prescribed the medication and the delivery ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. Negligence

The fraud claims of Chinese investors who each invested approximately $500,000 in a start-up car company without reading the underlying investment documents were dismissed because the investors could not have justifiably relied on stray misstatements made by the company’s founders ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Commercial Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III

Northrop Grumman successfully argued that an employee’s complaint was not within the scope of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or SOX, and she therefore could not claim whistleblower protection under the Act. An ALJ’s order in favor of the employee was vacated. ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Administrative Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr.

In a case of first impression in any circuit, a majority of the court held the federal Hate Crimes Act may be constitutionally applied to an assault of a victim engaged in interstate commercial activity at his place of work. ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge James A. Wynn Jr.

Where a ship worker brought personal injury claims against the shipowner and the owner of the shipyard in state court, and the owner of the shipyard asserted a contribution and indemnification claim against the shipowner, the shipowner was entitled to ...

Tagged with: Admirality Judge Henry Coke Morgan Jr. U.S. District Court - Eastern District