Where one brother alleged his brother and their mother improperly siphoned money from a family-owned company in order to line their own pockets, his breach of fiduciary duty, breach of loyalty, joint tortfeasor and civil conspiracy claims survived a motion ...

Tagged with: Contract Judge David J. Novak U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A man’s suit against his brother and his mother for allegedly siphoning money from a family-owned business will go forward on several counts after an Eastern District judge rejected the defendants’ motion to dismiss in part. Douglas Keil levied a ...

Tagged with: Judge David J. Novak U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where property owners’ slander of title claim rested on allegedly false statements, but the statements weren’t false, their claim was dismissed. Background This case involves a commercial, retail and residential common plan development known as Celebrate Virginia South, located in ...

Tagged with: Commercial Judge David J. Novak U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Despite a contrary earlier opinion from a federal court, a Hanover County circuit judge says employees can sue for tort damages claiming they were fired for blowing the whistle on safety problems. The Oct. 22 ruling by Judge Patricia Kelly ...

Tagged with: Judge David J. Novak Judge Patricia Kelly U.S. District Court - Eastern District Virginia Circuit Courts Whistleblower wrongful termination

Where a potential House of Delegates candidate alleged the Virginia Board of Elections violated the U.S. Constitution when it used electoral maps that do not reflect changes resulting from the 2020 census, his claim survived the motion to dismiss Background ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge David J. Novak U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where a customer alleged he was falsely accused by a Walmart employee that he wanted to fight her, his defamation claim was dismissed because the allegedly false statement was not defamatory. Background Ernest J. Wall alleged that a Walmart employee ...

Tagged with: Judge David J. Novak Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A Richmond federal judge has rejected a state-law wrongful termination claim based on alleged retaliation against an employee who reported safety and health violations. The Bowman claim fizzled because the state code already provides a “extensive statutory remedy” that precludes ...

Tagged with: Employment Judge David J. Novak retaliation

Where a nurse for a jail’s health care provider was subjected to a strip search on her first day of work at the regional jail, a jury will decide if prison officials violated her civil rights. Background Bikachi Amisi brings ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Judge David J. Novak U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where the plaintiffs alleged that defendants promised to deliver highly trained service dogs to customers that they never intended to deliver, the RICO, fraud and consumer protection act claims survived the motion to dismiss. Background This case involves an allegedly ...

Tagged with: Judge David J. Novak Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Despite allegations that a lawyer was using his cellphone for work when he struck a skateboarder with his car, a Richmond federal judge has dismissed his law firm from a personal injury action at the threshold of litigation. U.S. District ...

Tagged with: Judge David J. Novak law firm Personal Injury U.S. District Court - Eastern District