After “only the latest in a string of frivolous lawsuits” against Loudoun County and its various departments, a pro se litigant must pay the county more than $4,000 in attorneys’ fees. She is also barred from bringing more petitions against the County without ...

Tagged with: Civil Practice Civil Procedure Justice D. Arthur Kelsey Supreme Court of Virginia

One of two defendants appealing a $24,000 judgment against them cannot add the other defendant to the appeal. General district court judgments are final as to parties who note no appeal. Background In 2016, Denise Johnson rear-ended Defendant Milford Smith, ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. Norfolk Circuit Court Personal Injury Virginia Circuit Courts

A mother’s opening brief lacked sufficient principles of law and legal authorities to merit review of the circuit court’s order finding a risk of abuse or neglect and approving the goal of adoption for her child. Background Mother and Father, ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Family Law Judge Rosemarie Annunziata Parental Rights Virginia Court of Appeals

The trial court correctly held that, absent some reason why its order articulating a fixed pension annuity could not be enforced, it lacked jurisdiction to amend that order – even if the fixed amount therein didn’t match the percentage share ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Domestic Relations Family Law Judge William G. Petty Virginia Court of Appeals

A recent U.S. Supreme Court case did not require dismissal of putative class claims that might arise from illegal prerecorded calls to class members outside Virginia. While that approach may be logical in the mass-tort context, it is unnecessary in ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Class Action Consumer Protection Federal Jurisdiction Judge Norman K. Moon U.S. District Court - Western District

A out-of-state defendant is subject to the court’s jurisdiction, based on the numerous purchase orders (of large dollar value) that it placed with a Virginia health-care-products company. Background Plaintiff Belmora, a Virginia pharmaceutical company, is suing Defendant Midway Importing Inc. ...

Tagged with: Business Law Civil Procedure Constitutional Due Process Fifth Amendment Judge Liam O'Grady U.S. District Court - Eastern District

As amended in 2015, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) doesn’t require dismissal of a complaint served late, even with good cause not shown. Here, extending the service deadline better served the interests of justice, since it wouldn’t prejudice the ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Employment Employment Discrimination Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District

On reconsideration, an auto worker’s FMLA retaliation claim can go to trial after all. Having already found fact issues material to his other claims, the court concluded it would be inconsistent not to send the retaliation claim to the jury ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Employment Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon U.S. District Court - Western District

A numismatics lobbying group that intentionally imported ancient coins under international trade restrictions was unsuccessful in challenging forfeiture of the coins. Abuse of discretion is the appropriate standard for reviewing lower-court decisions to strike pleadings. Background In 1970, the U.S. ...

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

After the initial trial judge’s retirement, the re-assignment judge erred in reconsidering and effectively reversing a highly fact-dependent decision to recognize the defendants’ immunity from suit. The reconsideration exceeded the bounds of Rule 54. Background Defendants Jason Carpenter, Christopher Small, ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Civil Procedure Judge William B. Traxler Jr.