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Douglas honored by VSB
The Virginia State Bar Criminal Law Section presented its 2012 Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Award last week to Alexandria Public Defender Melinda Douglas. The award was presented on Feb. 3 during the section’s 42nd Annual Criminal Law Seminar in Williamsburg. The award is named for the former Virginia Supreme Court chief justice who promoted the […]
VBA steps up lobbying efforts in 2012
ROANOKE—After hiring a new lobbying firm, the Virginia Bar Association hopes to have a stronger impact on bills of interest to lawyers in this year’s General Assembly session. “We have ramped up our lobbying effort,” VBA president Lucia Anna Trigiani told members of the Roanoke Bar Association Tuesday. The change was calculated and set in […]
VADA’s Lisa Clement takes group approach
Richmond lawyer Lisa Frisina Clement says she wants to implement a group approach to improving Virginia’s defense bar after taking the reins of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. Clement became president of the defense bar at the group’s annual meeting last month in Williamsburg. She is the first woman to lead the VADA, which […]
VBA marks Veteran Legal Services Month
It’s Veteran Legal Services Month, and the Virginia Bar Association is once again at work recruiting pro bono volunteers to help veterans with legal issues and raising money for projects that help them. Volunteer response was strong last November, during the bar group’s first push for help for veterans. But pro bono lawyers are still […]
One for the veterans
Here’s an item in honor of Veterans Day tomorrow. It’s Veteran Legal Services Month, and the Virginia Bar Association is once again at work recruiting pro bono volunteers to help veterans with legal issues and raising money for projects that help them. Volunteer response was strong last November, during the bar group’s first push for […]
A guaranteed FAIL
WILLIAMSBURG–Virginia Beach lawyer Steve Emmert knows a thing or two about taking a case up on appeal. He’s one of the lawyers who has built appellate law into a recognized and well-respected area of practice in Virginia. He’s served as chair of the appellate practice sections of both the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia […]
A first, a second and a third for the VADA
WILLIAMSBURG—Richmond lawyer Lisa Frisina Clement became president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys today at the group’s annual meeting at the Kingsmill Resort. The VADA was founded in 1968; Clement is the first woman to lead the defense bar. The group came close in the early 2000s, noted outgoing president Dennis Quinn. Pamela Baskervill […]
Scalia to Richmond Bar: Persuade judges with good writing, accuracy
As long as there have been judges, there have been people telling you how to persuade judges, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia told a crowd of 500 lawyers and judges at the annual Richmond Bench Bar conference Oct. 13. But Scalia, known for his wit on the bench, received many a laugh as he […]
Kinser: Don’t tinker with Rules of Evidence
ROANOKE–Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Cynthia D. Kinser urged the General Assembly to vote thumbs-up or down on the court’s newly endorsed Rules of Evidence without any tweaking of individual rules. The court presented the rules to the Virginia Code Commission earlier this month, and in remarks to the Roanoke Bar Association Tuesday, Kinser said […]
Prosecutors say ‘no’ to changing discovery rule
A statewide group of prosecutors has flatly rejected amendments to the state’s rules governing discovery in criminal cases. In fact, the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys is refusing to talk about it any more, withdrawing from the discussions held by a special task force convened by the Virginia State Bar. Three of the 19 members […]
Benjamin to be president-elect of NACDL
Richmond lawyer Steven D. Benjamin will be sworn in Saturday as president-elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at its 53rd annual meeting in Denver. Benjamin has previously served as first- and second vice-president, treasurer, secretary and a member of the association’s the board of directors. The president-elect serves a one-year term […]
NALP, ABA at odds over law school employment data
The relationship between the American Bar Association and the National Association for Law Placement may be a victim of the bad market for law school graduates. In the past, the ABA has relied on NALP to collect and sort detailed data from law schools about jobs and salaries. But according to the The National Law […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Woodshop incident leads to amputation of fingers — $1.3M settlement
- Motorcyclist’s foot amputated in collision — $7M settlement
- Contractor rear-ended on interstate on way to wedding — $825,000 settlement
- Man suffers back injury in crash with out-of-state driver — $530,000 settlement
- Driver crossed center line, struck 89-year-old’s vehicle — $1.2M settlement
- Jury returns defense verdict in favor of gastroenterologist
- Teens killed in T-bone collision with officer — $3.1M settlement
- Man sustained subdural hematoma in rear-end collision —$1.15M settlement
- Adequate anesthesia not provided during C-section — $2.5M verdict
- Tenant fell ill from mold in apartment — $588,000 verdict
- Woman suffers nerve injury, pain after dental procedure — $550,000 settlement
- Driver struck child exiting school bus — $750,000 settlement
Opinion Digests
- Suit over historic mansion and estate dismissed
- Former employee’s claims survive motion to dismiss
- Equal Pay Act doesn’t apply to applicant
- Court rejects invocation of attorney-client privilege
- Evidence supported competency determination
- Appellees had power to remove business manager
- No continuance after witnesses failed to appear
- No actual or constructive eviction in warranty case
- Gas distribution pipeline exempt from ZBA regulation
- Improper venue in air pollution regulation matter
- No benefits awarded in unemployment comp case
- No immunity for judge who personally oversaw search
