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Judge Johnny E. Morrison

Mar 8, 2019

Pregnant woman hit driving over bridge – $100,000 Verdict

Plaintiff was driving over the Berkley Bridge toward Chesapeake when the defendant crossed multiple lanes of traffic and violently struck the plaintiff, forcing her car onto and almost over the jersey wall at the crest of the bridge. The plaintiff, 14 weeks pregnant at the time, was trapped for close to 30 minutes while her […]

Aug 10, 2018

Passenger gets one driver’s limits, gets defense verdict from other – Defense Verdict

Plaintiff was a passenger involved in a two-car collision. One driver settled for her policy limits. The remaining driver and defendant denied liability and brought the case to trial. Following the presentation of testimony and evidence, the jury returned a defense verdict. [18-T-083] Type of action: Personal Injury Injuries alleged: Neck, back, and knee injuries, […]

Apr 18, 2016

Officer Indicted for Murder Can Exclude Evidence

In this prosecution of a Portsmouth police officer for first-degree murder of a suspect­ed shoplifter, the Portsmouth Circuit Court says the commonwealth must provide de­fendant with the date, time and location of the offense for which he is charged and the court will exclude reference to a 2011 shoot­ing for which defendant has not been […]

Jun 3, 2015

Three-way battle erupts over courthouse security

Portsmouth officials are trying to deflect blame as a conflict between an elected sheriff and a budget-cutting city council threatens to leave judges in an insecure courthouse. Recurring tension between leaders at city hall and the independent sheriff led to a city budget that would cut $1 million from the sheriff’s office. In response, the […]

Dec 4, 2014

Assembly gets judges’ sentencing numbers

When legislators meet Friday, Dec. 12, to interview judges seeking re-election, expect to hear about numbers. The circuit  judges’ compliance rates with Virginia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, to be exact. Members of the Courts of Justice committees of the Senate and the House of Delegates will convene Dec. 12 to determine if judges merit another term […]

May 14, 2013

Medical practice was liable, doctor was not

The Supreme Court of Virginia has reinstated a jury verdict against a Portsmouth medical practice for alleged sloppy management in the case of a 24-year-old patient who died of pneumonia. The trial judge ruled the $3.5-million verdict had to be set aside because the jury made inconsistent findings – exonerating the doctor, but finding the […]

Apr 25, 2011

Court Sets Aside $3.5M Med-Mal Award

A Portsmouth Circuit Court sets aside a $3.5 million med-mal award because the verdict form showed the jury did not find the doctor liable, but found the doctor’s practice group liable, and there was no evidence that the practice group was independently liable for alleged failure to communicate a diagnosis of pneumonia to decedent. The […]

Apr 25, 2011

Jury verdict creates issue of respondeat superior – Plaintiff’s Verdict Set Aside

The estate of a 24-year-old decedent alleged at trial that the defendant doctor and his group were liable for the failure of the doctor to timely advise the decedent of the presence of pneumonia as evidenced by a chest X-ray. The jury returned a $3,500,000 verdict (later reduced to $1,850,000 pursuant to the medical malpractice […]

Apr 19, 2011

Portsmouth judge sets aside $3.5 med-mal award

A Portsmouth judge has set aside a $3.5 million verdict against a medical practice group because the verdict exonerated the employee-physician who the plaintiff alleged was negligent. The doctor’s office allegedly dialed the wrong phone number, then failed to follow up, to let a man know that test results showed pneumonia, not an upper respiratory […]

Jan 17, 2011

Man dies from pneumonia before learning of diagnosis – $3,500,000 Verdict

The 24-year-old decedent went to the defendant doctor with chest pain and a cough. He was diagnosed with chestwall pain and prescribed a narcotic pain reliever. The decedent returned the next day with complaints of increased chest pain and spitting up blood-stained sputum. He was perspiring and vomiting in the doctor’s waiting room. He was […]

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