The Court of Appeals reverses a circuit court’s award of state disability retirement benefits, as well as legal fees and costs, to a city equipment operator who alleged disability due to arthritis, COPD, knee problems, mini strokes, a pinched nerve ...

Tagged with: Administrative Justice Charles S. Russell Virginia Court of Appeals

The Supreme Court of Virginia reverses a trial court’s denial of an application for name change filed by a federal prison inmate who has been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and wishes to change her name, and directs the court ...

Tagged with: Administrative Justice Donald W. Lemons Supreme Court of Virginia

A sheriff’s department does not have to turn over a military official’s suicide note contained in a criminal investigative file under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Supreme Court of Virginia holds. The sheriff’s department responded to the scene ...

Tagged with: Administrative Justice D. Arthur Kelsey Supreme Court of Virginia

A majority of the Supreme Court of Virginia upholds an SCC decision that a proposed Dominion power line “reasonably” minimized adverse impacts on the “scenic assets, historic districts and environment of the area concerned,” but says the SCC erred in ...

Tagged with: Administrative Justice LeRoy F. Millette Jr. Supreme Court of Virginia

The 4th Circuit upholds a decision that a black lung benefits claimant was entitled to the “15-year presumption” of eligibility for benefits when a claimant suffers from a totally disabling respiratory or pulmonary impairment and has 15 years of qualifying ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Administrative Judge Pamela A. Harris

A driver once facing more than $10,000 in HOT Lanes charges beat the rap with a circuit court ruling that puts a one-year limit on toll collection actions. Fairfax County Chief Circuit Judge Dennis J. Smith ruled the toll authority ...

Tagged with: Administrative Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Dennis J. Smith Traffic Offenses

A 58-year-old claimant who worked for over 30 years as a professional singer and who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and “abnormal grief” will have another chance to win supplemental security income if the Danville U.S. Distract ...

Tagged with: Administrative Judge Joel Hoppe U.S. District Court - Western District

Two fishermen’s convictions for violating state fishing laws provided substantial evidence to support the Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s decision to revoke their fishing licenses and privileges for one year, and the Court of Appeals reverses a circuit court decision that ...

Tagged with: Administrative Judge Robert J. Humphreys Virginia Court of Appeals

Although a black lung claimant had a history of smoking and lung cancer treatment, the administrative law judge’s award of black lung benefits is supported by substantial evidence; the 4th Circuit says the ALJ did not err in applying the ...

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

In reviewing a professional accreditation agency’s refusal to renew accreditation for plaintiff massage therapy school, the district court erred by conducting a de novo review when it expanded the administrative record, held a full multi-day bench trial, received depositions and ...

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