Where the plaintiff’s motion to amend her personal injury complaint arising out of a Segway accident came after fact discovery concluded, it was granted because the defendants failed to show prejudice. The new allegations merely elaborated on the original ones, ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Negligence U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a former school employee alleged the then-superintendent defamed him by telling another person that his procurement violations were “deliberate and egregious,” he may take limited discovery from the school board about its investigation, his termination, the procurement of furniture ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a defendant was sued for defamation after claiming the plaintiff was a “‘deep state shill’ who was part of the state department’s attempt to cover up its involvement in instigating the attack in Charlottesville, his subpoenas to law enforcement ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where default was entered against a correctional official sued for allegedly sexually assaulting and psychologically torturing a detainee, but the detainee then filed an amended complaint, the default was vacated as moot. Background Plaintiffs Viviana Anselme and Alysha Honeycutt are ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Judge Joel Hoppe U.S. District Court - Western District

Where the plaintiff sued her attorney for negligently representing her in a divorce action, and the defendant claimed a prior attorney was responsible, the former attorney was not a necessary party who needed to be involuntarily joined, even if he ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a plaintiff suing Alex Jones, InfoWars and two other parties for libel sought all documents regarding prior libel or defamation suits involving the defendants for the past 10 years, its motion to compel was denied because the request was ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where the defendant produced only four documents in response to plaintiff’s requests for production, and the plaintiff identified documents that should have been produced but were not, the defendant’s new counsel must ensure his client’s compliance with the federal rules. ...

Tagged with: Evidence Judge Joel Hoppe U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a man sued for his alleged role in the “Unite the Right” rallies repeatedly failed to produce relevant information and documents going to the heart of the plaintiffs’ conspiracy claims, his conduct prejudiced the plaintiffs and he demonstrated that ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Sanctions U.S. District Court - Western District

Although the plaintiffs obtained a preliminary injunction enjoining a Virginia statute that automatically suspended drivers’ licenses when persons failed to pay their court debt, and the statute was subsequently repealed by the General Assembly, their request as prevailing parties for ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge Joel Hoppe U.S. District Court - Western District

Although a former tenant asserting a wrongful eviction claim repeatedly referenced the landlord’s participation in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, or LIHTC, program, his state-law claims did not turn on any embedded federal question, the complaint did not appear ...

Tagged with: Consumer Protection Judge Joel Hoppe U.S. District Court - Western District