Free Newsletter
Ex-Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and wife found dead in murder-suicide, police say
Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax and his wife Cerina were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in their Fairfax County home.
Parent & Child – Parents’ suit over removal of children from their care is dismissed
The western district of Virginia dismissed the Allmans’ suit challenging child removal, citing sovereign and judicial immunity and lack of jurisdiction.
Tort – Husband’s suit against wife’s attorney is dismissed
The western district of Virginia dismissed federal claims in husband Mohammed Azimi’s suit against wife’s attorney Palma Pustilnik in a child custody dispute.
Russell named next Virginia State Bar president-elect
Bruce H. Russell II, founder of Bruce H. Russell II PC, has been named president-elect of the Virginia State Bar, succeeding Susan Bradford Tarley.
Supreme Court of Virginia clarifies adoption statute
The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that a stepmother's adoption can proceed without the biological mother's consent under Va. Code § 63.2-1202.
Insufficient assertion of intent to separate dooms divorce complaint
A Fairfax judge dismissed a divorce complaint, ruling intent to permanently separate must be pleaded under Virginia law.
Evidence: Expert may testify at child abduction trial
Where a mother sued for refusing to return two children to their father in Paraguay designed an expert to offer testimony regarding Paraguay’s legal system, the father’s challenges to the expert were rejected.
Wife who abandoned marriage not entitled to husband’s inheritance
The Court of Appeals of Virginia ruled a wife abandoned her marriage and forfeited her elective share under Va. Code §64.2-308.3, affirming the trial court.
Parent and child: Parental rights terminated because of mother’s abuse
Where the record showed that the children withstood physical, verbal and emotional abuse while in mother’s care, but had an improved standard of living in foster care, the circuit court was not “plainly wrong” in holding that terminating mother’s parental rights was in the children’s best interest.
Domestic Relations: Court finds that wife abandoned the marriage
Where the parties began living in separate houses, the wife had a very minor role in caring for husband during his terminal illness and wife began a separate romantic and sexual relationship mere months after separating from husband and maintained that relationship for years through his death, the circuit court’s finding that she abandoned the marriage was affirmed.
Domestic Relations: Circuit court properly corrected final decree nunc pro tunc
Where the circuit court found, based on the 2019 transcript, that it had committed a clerical error, and amended the final decree nunc pro tunc to align with the transcript, it did not err.
Legislature expected to take up issues impacting legal community
Virginia’s new leadership prepares major 2026 legal reforms, including bar dues changes, GAL pay increases, and revived bills on criminal law and civil litigation.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – 74-year-old injured in two-vehicle crash
- Employment- Arbitrator finds unfair labor practices by school
- Medical Malpractice- Gallbladder removal surgery results in reparative procedure
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Car with mother, two children broadsided, rolled several times
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Driver, passenger suffer injuries after truck crosses into lane
- Fraud – Jury sides with couple in home construction case
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Triathlete suffered fractures after being struck by pickup truck
- Medical Malpractice- Nursing facility patient died after falling, suffering head injury
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Sales manager sustained multiple injuires in Virginia Beach collision
- Products Liability – Workplace accident results in amputation at the wrist
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Railroad worker injured in collision with tractor-trailer
Opinion Digests
- Banks and banking – Bank defeats customer’s conversion claim
- Prisons – Inmate’s lack-of-exercise claim was wrongly dismissed
- Criminal – Gang members convicted on multiple charges
- Employment – District court wrongly dismissed casino employee’s FMLA/USERRA suit
- Tort- Government contractor liable for abuses at Abu Ghraib
- Negligence – Claims narrowed in trucking accident
- Employment – Retaliation claim against Freddie Mac is dismissed
- Civil Practice – Rule 12(b)(6) motion can’t be granted simply because its unopposed
- Municipal – Lynchburg registrar’s attack on adverse jury verdict fails
- Bankruptcy – Chapter 11 petition stays asbestos-exposure lawsuits
- Criminal – Evidence supports conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon
- Consumer Protection – Default judgment entered against auto dealership
