Boyfriend Was ‘Person Responsible’ for Child Neglect
Although defendant claimed he was not a “person responsible” for the care of a child under Va. Code § 18.2-371.1(A), he lived with the infant’s mother, helped care for the infant and identified himself as the infant’s “father” and the child’s guarantor on hospital forms, and the Court of Appeals upholds defendant’s conviction for child […]
Disc Compensable Not Depression
In consolidated appeals, the Court of Appeals affirms decisions of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission awarding compensation for employee’s disc injury and medical treatment and denying compensation for employee’s depression as not work-related; credible record evidence supports causation of the disc injury and the treating physician’s referral authorized treatment with that phys[...]
‘Gradation’ Allowed Drug-Charge Joinder
At defendant’s trial for providing cocaine to an informant, the trial court did not err in declining to sever charges based on two separate drug buys, as evidence of the first buy was necessary to prove the later buy was a second or subsequent offense; the Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions for drug distribution, […]
Deceased Mother No Defense to Prescription Fraud
The Court of Appeals affirmed defendant’s bench conviction for attempted prescription fraud; the totality of evidence was sufficient and the trial court was entitled to reject as incredible defendant’s claim that his mother instructed him to get the prescription for his ailing brother. In late August 2008, defendant presented a prescription for a controlled narcotic […]
Ends of Justice Exception Not Met
Defendant is not entitled to have her bench trial conviction for misdemeanor child neglect reversed, the Court of Appeals says; defendant as a matter of trial strategy did not object to reduction of the charges and cannot bring this case within the “ends of justice” exception to Rule 5A:18. In July 2010, defendant was charged […]
Felon With Gun Has Three-Count Conviction
A convicted felon who conceded at trial that he possessed a firearm on three separate occasions from April 9, 2010, after he stole it and as he attempted to sell it, until he sold the gun on April 23, 2010, can be convicted of three counts – not one count – of possession of a […]
Beating Victim Gave Up Property
The Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s bench trial conviction for robbery following his participation in a beating that resulted in conviction for malicious wounding; it was defendant’s violence that caused victim to relinquish his property. One February evening, defendant, victim and another friend gathered at victim’s apartment where they drank alcohol and played music. After […]
Handcuffing Not Arrest
The Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s bench trial conviction for assault and battery of a law enforcement officer performing duties; defendant had no right to resist the police officer’s handcuffing him to protect himself, defendant’s grandmother and toddler daughter. Grandmother called police officer to her home stating she was upset about being unable to reach […]
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