Free Newsletter
Man took business partner’s life insurance proceeds – $1,161,482 Verdict
Two business owners had purchased life insurance through their corporation to provide funds for stock redemption in the event of death of a partner, as well as life insurance for estate. Originally, each partner was the owner and beneficiary of the policy insuring the life of the other partner. Shortly after policies were acquired, the […]
‘Dangling Object’ Statute Not Vague
On appeal by the commonwealth, a Chesapeake Circuit Court holds that Va. Code § 46.2-1054, which prohibits dangling objects in a vehicle that obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway, is not facially void for vagueness nor unconstitutionally void as applied to defendant driver, who was stopped by a police officer; the court remands […]
A ‘dangling’ conversation
Walk through the parking lot of any shopping center and you will see them. Walk up to the counter of any convenience store and you will see them. Little pine-tree air fresheners. They are designed to hang from the rear-view mirror of a car or truck, and presumably, to improve the smell of the vehicle’s […]
UIM carrier offered only $25K for head-on crash – $400,000 Verdict
The plaintiff was a passenger in a car being driven by one of his friends. They were going to the Walmart in Chesapeake off Battlefield Boulevard. As they were circling into the Walmart parking lot on Walmart Way, another car coming in the other direction drifted into their lane of travel and hit them head-on. […]
Divorce Proceeds for Common Law Marriage
Despite a 1986 Florida divorce decree, a couple has a valid common law marriage under Georgia law where they lived together after a 1990 “renewal” of their marriage vows in a religious ceremony, and the Chesapeake Circuit Court says husband’s divorce action will proceed forward as any divorce action in Virginia. A marriage’s validity is […]
Woman attacked by dog in neighbor’s home – $125,000 Verdict
Plaintiff was bitten in the face and hand by a 130-pound Akita while petting the dog in the defendants’ home. Plaintiff and defendants were at a neighborhood gathering when plaintiff and a witness accompanied one of the defendants to her home to get a bottle of liquor. While in the home, defendant excused herself to […]
Veterinarian records provide key to dog-bite win
A woman’s offer to retrieve extra refreshments from her home for a neighborhood party left her liable for a $125,000 jury award when her dog bit the neighbor who accompanied her to her home. Veterinarian records had flagged the defendants’ 130-pound Akita as displaying a high level of aggression, according to Norfolk lawyer John R. […]
Intoxication Evidence Comes In
A woman suing defendants whose male Akita dog bit her on the arm and face will have to face her post-incident statement to animal control that she was “very intoxicated and did not remember a lot” about the incident; but the Chesapeake Circuit Court defers a decision on admitting possible expert testimony about alcohol being […]
Newspaper defamed school principal and his son, jury finds – $3,000,000 Verdict
On Dec. 18, 2009, The Virginian-Pilot published a news article, authored by Louis Hansen, about Phillip Webb, a public school assistant principal, and his son, a student in the same school system. Plaintiff alleged the defendant newspaper falsely implied that he had improperly used his position to obtain preferential treatment for his student son. In […]
Recount Petition Came Too Late
A Goochland County Circuit Court dismisses a petition for recount as petitioner did not cause the petition to be served on respondent within 10 days after certification of the election results as required by Va. Code § 24.2-801. The court grants the Special Appearance Motion to Dismiss. It is ordered that the petition filed herein […]
Student says paper defamed him with bullying allegation – $5,000,000 Verdict
A newspaper article about an assault case falsely stated that a high school athlete routinely bullied another student at Great Bridge High School. The article reported accurately that the plaintiff had been convicted of assaulting the father of the student who said he had been bullied, and that the plaintiff’s brother had been convicted of […]
Student scores $5M verdict against The Virginian-Pilot
Patrick Bristol, a student at Chesapeake’s Great Bridge High School, told a reporter for The Virginian-Pilot that fellow student Kevin Webb routinely shoved and taunted him at school. The Pilot reported that allegation as fact, an assertion that Webb denied before a Chesapeake Circuit Court jury. The jury believed Webb and returned a $5 million […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Driver struck twice in rear-end collision at red light — $350,000 settlement
- Drunken driver strikes vehicle on interstate — $200,000 settlement
- Trip and fall on mat leads to knee replacement surgery — $1.5M verdict
- Woman suffers permanent injury in broadside crash — $2.325M settlement
- Teacher injured in accident during morning commute — $1.5M settlement
- 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
Opinion Digests
- Court silent on if ALJs were constitutionally appointed
- Homeowner’s lawsuit barred by res judicata
- Uncertainty over service prevents default judgment
- No stay of case pending resolution of motion
- Man’s unlawful search, seizure claims dismissed
- Amazon shows patent claim is ineligible abstract idea
- Geographical separation dooms trademark claim
- ‘Narcotics trafficker’ defense rejected
- Litigant’s suit against courts, judges dismissed
- Body cam footage properly admitted
- Motion to withdraw pleas properly denied
- Evidence supports murder, conspiracy conviction
