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Mandatory minimum bills advance
(AP) Lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly advanced criminal justice reform measures that would eliminate mandatory minimums in favor of allowing judges more sentencing discretion. Senate Bill 1443, introduced by Sen. John S. Edwards, D-Roanoke, narrowly passed Feb. 5 on a 21-17 vote. The bill proposes to eliminate mandatory minimum prison sentences in Virginia […]
Unlinked: Prosecutors renounce funding incentives to pile on charges
One aspect of the 2020 Virginia criminal justice reform agenda may already have been achieved, even as reform legislation was parked for a year. Virginia prosecutors responding to a call for revision of the state’s formula for allocating staff positions deny there has been any practical incentive to overcharge defendants, but they have agreed to […]
Reformers disappointed with criminal justice legislation
Despite some wins by advocates for criminal justice change in Virginia, the 2020 General Assembly session failed to deliver on a number of key projects for reformers. Proposals to revamp sentencing and to greatly expand judges’ authority to defer and dismiss criminal cases failed to make it past the House of Delegates this year, despite […]
Governor signs bill raising felony theft threshold
(AP) Gov. Ralph Northam has signed legislation that will soften the penalties for people caught stealing smaller-dollar items. The Democratic governor announced April 4 that he’d approved a bill that raises the state’s felony theft threshold from $200 to $500. The bill’s sponsor Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke, said in a statement on Twitter that he believed […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Worker fell off roof, rendering him a paraplegic — $1.25M settlement
- Driver sustained permanent hearing loss after traffic collision — $240,000 settlement
- Plaintiff suffered concussion in rear-end collision — $81,000 verdict
- Builder misrepresented home status to buyers — $675,000 verdict
- Low potassium led to cardiac arrest, death of patient — $1M settlement
- Excessive propofol caused death in dialysis patient — $850,000 settlement
- Pedestrian struck in crosswalk in hit-and-run incident — $300,000 settlement
- Navy veteran killed in collision with box truck — $1.85M arbitration award
- Motorcyclist ejected from bike in collision with SUV — $1.5M settlement
- Jury rules in plaintiff’s favor in defamation suit with city — $300,000 verdict
- Woman missed step on walkway, rupturing Achilles tendon — $160,000 settlement
- Court dismisses suit in hit-and-run death of 2-year-old
Opinion Digests
- Debtor fails to show that signatures were forged
- Alleged defect in service of process excused
- Sales reps defeat injunction motion by former employer
- Court refuses to strike damages expert’s report
- Company can’t dismiss securities class action
- Defendants sued for not repaying loan
- No claim for ACA retaliation outside employment arena
- Plaintiffs awarded $33K in damages, $324K in fees
- Bank dodges claim for customer’s in-person transfer
- Jury to decide who is on hook for $207K loss
- Woman claims hospital did not offer appropriate exam
- Board members accused of political patronage
