Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly

An affidavit alleging open-meeting violations by a county board of supervisors was sufficient to support a FOIA petition when the affiant swore to her belief in matters presented on information, the Virginia Supreme Court held. Background Appellant Marian Bragg alleges ...

Tagged with: Chief justice Donald Lemons Municipal Public Records Supreme Court of Virginia

A plaintiff suing the Virginia Department of Corrections cannot offer a pre-taped deposition as testimony, despite his residence and Florida and difficulty staying on topic due to autism. He will be permitted to testify remotely by live video. Background Plaintiff ...

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

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 pipeline construction company had no legal right to use an access road on the defendants’ property, and therefore the company did not “possess” the land so as to require just compensation to the owner. Background This matter is before ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Judge Norman K. Moon Real Property U.S. District Court - Western District

A Swiss researcher who discovered the genetic mutation that causes Nasal Parakeratosis in Labrador Retrievers could not enforce a patent on it, because the discovery was a naturally-occurring phenomenon. Background This action concerns U.S. Patent No. 9,157,114 for an in ...

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

Gavin Grimm, who attended a Virginia public high school and was prohibited from using the boys’ bathroom because he was identified as female at birth, sufficiently alleged discrimination claims against the school under both Title IX and the Equal Protection ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Constitutional Education Equal Protection Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen Municipal U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The district court did not err in declining to reduce the defendant’s sentence on grounds that he accepted responsibility for his offenses, since he fled the country before his initial sentencing hearing. However, the defendant should have been granted leave ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge Roger L. Gregory Sentencing

Waterfront property owners who brought a groundless claim against their neighbor for working as a state agent to create a special tax district are liable for his attorneys’ fees. Background In this action, the Plaintiffs allege that Defendant Frank Gurdziel ...

Tagged with: Attorneys Fees Civil Practice Constitutional Due Process Judge Robert G. Doumar Municipal Real Estate Real Property U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The Eastern District’s Local Bankruptcy Rule 3070-1(C), which allows for dismissal without hearing, conflicts with the requirements of 11 U.S.C. § 1307. Background In January 2017, the bankruptcy trustee certified under Local Bankruptcy Rule 3070-1(C) that Debtor-Appellant Sarah No had ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Bankruptcy Civil Procedure Due Process Judge Allyson K. Duncan