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Oregon to pay inmates who got COVID-19 in $49M class settlement
Oregon will pay $49 million in a class action settlement to inmates who contracted COVID-19 in prison and estates of those who died, resolving claims of inadequate care.
Prisons – Former federal inmate’s Bivens’ action is dismissed
The 4th Circuit affirmed dismissal of Mandriez Spivey’s bivens claims against federal prison employees for inadequate medical care and excessive force.
Prisons – Inmate’s lack-of-exercise claim was wrongly dismissed
The 4th Circuit vacated summary judgment for prison officials in Bolick v. Anderson, finding disputed facts on inmate exercise deprivation at Kirkland Correctional Institution.
Prisons – District court did not err when it construed inmate’s pro se complaint
The 4th Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of inmate Daniel Jackson’s deliberate indifference claim under the Eighth Amendment in Virginia.
Tennessee execution raises defibrillator, pain concerns
Story highlights • Ivan Black was executed in Tennessee amid medical concerns. • Officials refused to deactivate his implantable defibrillator. • Legal battles cited intellectual disability and medical ethics. • […]
WDVA: Jail employee owes inmate $700k+ for sexual assaults
In a § 1983 action by a former jail inmate, default judgment was granted against a jail employee who failed to appear despite being properly served. The court found that […]
4th Cir.: “Habitual drunkard” interdiction laws upheld
A district court properly dismissed constitutional challenges to Virginia’s civil interdiction process, which can lead to criminal penalties for possession, consumption, or purchase of alcoholic beverages by individuals subject to […]
WDVA: Prisoner’s dim-lighting claim can proceed to discovery
An inmate’s claim that officials at Green Rock Correctional Center violated his Eighth Amendment rights by keeping cell lights off for 23 hours per day survived a motion to dismiss. […]
EDVA: Solitary confinement was cruel and unusual
The Department of Corrections was enjoined from reverting back to solitary-confinement conditions for Virginia death-row inmates prior to 2015, as such conditions violate the Eighth Amendment. Background Plaintiffs Thomas Porter, […]
EDVA: Solitary confinement was cruel and unusual
The Eastern District enjoined the Department of Corrections from reverting back to solitary-confinement conditions for Virginia death-row inmates prior to 2015, as such conditions violate the Eighth Amendment. Background Plaintiffs […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- 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
- Medical Malpractice – Nursing facility patient dies after fracturing ankle in fall
- Medical Malpractice- Patient has bladder injury during colostomy reversal
- Premises Liability- Apartment guest burned by gas grill spewing fire
Opinion Digests
- The Most Important Opinions, January-June 2026
- Criminal – Court of Appeals wrongly vacated murder conviction
- Tort – U.Va. prevails on former professor’s claims
- Constitutional – Company’s due process claim against county is dismissed
- Administrative – Plaintiffs’ effort to enjoin ITC proceeding fails
- Patent and trademark – Amazon patent infringement suit transferred to New Jersey
- Tort – Chesterfield County dismissed from wrongful death suit
- Consumer Protection – Lawsuit over kratom survives motion to dismiss
- Criminal – Defendant convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a child
- Evidence – Motion to exclude transmission expert is rejected
- Damages – Court awards pre-judgment interest following parties’ acquiescence
- Employment – Court approves overtime wage collective action settlement
