Free Newsletter
Criminal – Evidence didn’t support voluntary manslaughter jury instruction
Virginia court affirms refusal of voluntary manslaughter instruction in James Ray Williams' second-degree murder conviction due to insufficient provocation evidence.
Search & Seizure – Protective sweep doctrine justified warrantless search
The Virginia circuit court affirmed that the protective sweep doctrine justified a warrantless search of Phillip Graham's backpack despite suppression of his statement.
Criminal – Defendant agreed to allow statement of facts at trial
The EDVA court ruled that Sohaib Akhter's statement of facts in a plea agreement is admissible despite his withdrawal, affirming the agreement's enforceability.
Criminal – Defendant fails to show government perpetuated fraud on the court
Defendant Anjay Patel’s motion alleging government fraud on the court was denied by the WDVA court for failing to meet Rule 60 standards and timeliness.
Criminal – Medicaid fraud convictions overturned
The 4th Circuit reversed and vacated the Medicaid fraud convictions of Richard Davis due to insufficient evidence on claims for services not rendered.
Jurors – Record supports trial court’s refusal to strike juror for cause
The Virginia court of appeals affirmed the trial court's decision denying a motion to strike a juror for cause in Justin Ray Dutcher's controlled substance conviction.
Jurors – Man convicted of assault and battery of law enforcement officers
The Virginia Court of Appeals affirmed Gregory James Louissaint's conviction for assault and battery of law enforcement officers in Suffolk.
‘Beltway sniper’ bid to be resentenced sooner in MD rejected by appeals court
The Maryland appellate court denied Lee Boyd Malvo's appeal to expedite his resentencing, ruling the issue is not yet ready for review.
FBI raids business of Democratic Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas
The FBI raided the cannabis retail business co-owned by Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas amid a federal bribery investigation related to the dispensary.
Traffic stop questions didn’t violate Fourth Amendment
The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that a 12-second police questioning during a Newport News traffic stop did not violate the Fourth Amendment.
AI errors in murder case lead to discipline for Georgia prosecutor
The Georgia Supreme Court disciplined assistant district attorney Deborah Leslie for AI-generated false citations in a murder case ruling.
Criminal- Charges dismissed because of Speedy Trial Act
The henry county circuit court affirmed dismissal of felony indictments against John Antonio Fennell due to speedy trial act violations.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Motor Vehicle Negligence Rear-seat passenger injured when car hits telephone pole
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Car crash after back surgery causes additional injuries
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with cardiologist over treatment of strokes
- Negligence and Tort- Ice pack use during tattoo removal causes frostbite
- Workers’ Compensation Struck by metal door at workplace, plaintiff sustains subdural hematoma
- Motor Vehicle Negligence Woman struck by vehicle loses senses of taste, smell
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Pedestrian struck by car while in parking lot
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Driver fractures right leg in tractor-trailer collision
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Motorcyclist hit by car suffers two broken wrists
- Medical Malpractice – Young patient commits suicide while on psychoactive drugs
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Art teacher’s hand injured in collision
Opinion Digests
- Criminal – Unlawful wounding by mob conviction is affirmed
- Patent and trademark – Amazon largely prevails on patent claims
- Criminal – Sentence for ‘unusually heinous’ conduct is affirmed
- Criminal – Sentence wasn’t unreasonable despite deportation consequences
- Appeals – Waiver in plea agreement forecloses most arguments on appeal
- Appeals – Appellant’s informal brief forfeited appellate review
- Employment – Failure to exhaust administrative remedies dooms Title VII suit
- Jurors – Dishonest juror didn’t violate defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights
- Criminal – Motion to suppress backpack denied where defendant abandoned item
- Civil Rights – Officer denied immunity in fatal shooting case
- Civil Rights – No qualified immunity on excessive force police K-9 claim
- Criminal – Probable cause includes dog’s positive alert for narcotics
