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Turtle advocates to sue government agencies
In 2007, conservationists asked the federal government to declare the loggerhead sea turtle, a species that spends its summers in Virginia coastal waters, an endangered species. The government never responed, reports The Virginian-Pilot, so lawyers from three national advocacy groups are expected to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife […]
Prof. Cannon selected for EPA post
President Obama has named University of Virginia law professor Jon Cannon to the No. 2 post at the Environmental Protection Agency. His position as deputy administrator of the EPA is subject to Senate approval, according to The Daily Progress. If approved, he will take a leave of absence from the law school.
Mine companies win mountaintop appeal
A divided panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Friday to allow mountaintop removal mining without more extensive environmental reviews. The 2-1 decision was written by Judge Roger L. Gregory, joined by Judge Dennis W. Shedd. Judge M. Blane Michael wrote a dissent. As reported by the Associated Press, the rulings are […]
New administration won’t halt drilling plans
Plans for selling oil and gas drilling rights in the waters off Virginia apparently will not be changed by the Obama team. According to The Virginian-Pilot, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said he would not intervene in a planned sale of exploration and drilling rights in Atlantic waters at least 50 miles off the […]
Judge reluctantly would allow clear-cutting
Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve. U.S. Magistrate Judge Pamela Meade Sargent made it perfectly clear where her sentiments lie in her report and recommendation issued yesterday in the Ison Rock Ridge logging case: “To a child of Appalachia, to see the mountains laid waste, whether by clear-cutting or strip mining, is to […]
Environmental groups challenge coal plant on two fronts
Environmental groups launched a two-pronged legal attack last week on a planned $8-billion coal-burning power plant in Wise County. The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of four other groups, sued in both Richmond Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of Virginia. Two actions filed in the circuit court are administrative appeals of decisions by […]
Group files suit to stop Interstate 73
An environmental activist group has filed a federal lawsuit, seeking to stop construction of Interstate 73, a proposed highway from the Roanoke Valley to the North Carolina state line. But the Roanoke Times reports that a group called Virginians for Appropriate Roads filed suit in Richmond, hoping to halt funding for the $4 billion project.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Woodshop incident leads to amputation of fingers — $1.3M settlement
- Motorcyclist’s foot amputated in collision — $7M settlement
- Contractor rear-ended on interstate on way to wedding — $825,000 settlement
- Man suffers back injury in crash with out-of-state driver — $530,000 settlement
- Driver crossed center line, struck 89-year-old’s vehicle — $1.2M settlement
- Jury returns defense verdict in favor of gastroenterologist
- Teens killed in T-bone collision with officer — $3.1M settlement
- Man sustained subdural hematoma in rear-end collision —$1.15M settlement
- Adequate anesthesia not provided during C-section — $2.5M verdict
- Tenant fell ill from mold in apartment — $588,000 verdict
- Woman suffers nerve injury, pain after dental procedure — $550,000 settlement
- Driver struck child exiting school bus — $750,000 settlement
Opinion Digests
- Suit over historic mansion and estate dismissed
- Former employee’s claims survive motion to dismiss
- Equal Pay Act doesn’t apply to applicant
- Court rejects invocation of attorney-client privilege
- Evidence supported competency determination
- Appellees had power to remove business manager
- No continuance after witnesses failed to appear
- No actual or constructive eviction in warranty case
- Gas distribution pipeline exempt from ZBA regulation
- Improper venue in air pollution regulation matter
- No benefits awarded in unemployment comp case
- No immunity for judge who personally oversaw search
