Free Newsletter
COA reverses coworker defamation suit dismissal
The Court of Appeals of Virginia reversed dismissal of defamation and tortious interference claims involving a false invoice scheme by a coworker.
4th Circuit: Worker defamation lawsuit can proceed
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled no personal jurisdiction over California co-worker but allowed vicarious liability claims against Gilead Sciences.
Ad agency, former exec settle #MeToo-era lawsuit
The Martin Agency and former chief creative officer Joe Alexander settled a sexual harassment-related lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court, ending years of litigation.
Flying Squirrels owner sues Thalhimer exec for defamation
Richmond Flying Squirrels managing partner Lou DiBella sues Thalhimer Realty Partners and Jason Guillot for defamation over false threat claims.
Free speech and whistleblower claims dismissed in edva high school teacher suit
Zenaida Perez's free speech and whistleblower claims against Fairfax County School Board were dismissed by the EDVA court due to immunity and insufficient allegations.
US judge throws out Trump’s defamation case against Wall Street Journal
A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, citing failure to meet the actual malice standard.
Constitutional- Ecclesiastical-abstention doctrine bars pastors’ lawsuit against church
The Virginia circuit court dismissed pastors’ defamation claims against Great Bridge Presbyterian Church under the ecclesiastical-abstention doctrine.
Tort – Kennedy Center director’s libel suit is dismissed
Richard Grenell’s defamation suit against Olivia Troye dismissed for lack of defamatory meaning and failure to plead damages in EDVA at Alexandria.
Mixed results in malicious prosecution verdict
A federal jury issued defamation and malicious prosecution verdicts in a six-year Virginia case, with a judge later reducing both awards under state punitive caps.
Tort: Ecclesiastical abstention doctrine applies to priest’s defamation suit
Where a priest alleged he was defamed when his name was included on a list of clergy with credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors, the suit was barred by the ecclesiastical abstention. The definition used to determine that there was a credible and substantiated allegation of sexual abuse involving a minor includes references to religious precepts.
Tort: $1 million defamation verdict is vacated
Where a jury awarded $1 million to a man accused of being a “SEXUAL PREDATOR/HARASSER,” the verdict was vacated. The protected opinions were based upon and derived from fully disclosed facts.
Tort: School board members denied immunity in defamation suit
Where two school board officials included allegedly defamatory information about a third party in documents regarding disciplinary proceedings against another board member, the officials were not entitled to immunity against the third party’s claims for defamation and defamation per se.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Medical Malpractice – Death from cancer followed stomach pain misdiagnosis
- Workers’ Compensation – Seasonal worker paralyzed in tobacco baler accident
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with doctor in suit over rescue surgery
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Unicycle rider dies after being hit by car
- Premises Liability – Delivery driver injured by porch decking collapse
- Premises Liability – Fall down stairs at resort results in injuries, death
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with doctor in suit over rescue surgery
- Workers’ Compensation- Seasonal worker paralyzed in tobacco baler accident
- Medical Malpractice- Death from cancer followed stomach pain misdiagnosis
- Workers’ Compensation – Struck in face by forklift, woman suffers brain injury
- Negligence and Tort – Group home resident falls, sustaining femur fracture
Opinion Digests
- Negligence – Neighbors ordered to pay $300,000 for boundary wall collapse
- Fraud – Court vacates fraud judgment against home sellers
- Employment – Former employee’s claims against ODU are narrowed
- Civil Rights – Civil rights suit was filed too late
- Criminal – Woman dodges disorderly conduct conviction
- Zoning – Disgruntled resident’s suit against County zoning officials is dismissed
- Criminal – Trial court lost jurisdiction to act on defendant’s motion
- Civil Procedure – Court seals briefs and exhibits
- Freedom of Information – UVA appropriately withheld documents under ‘working papers’ exemption
- Contract – Sprint sued for terminating contract in bad faith
- Bankruptcy – Purchaser of assets dodges bankrupt predecessor’s alleged liability
- Landlord and tenant – Commercial landlord’s suit against tenant is dismissed
