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 ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Contract Judge Randall D. Smith Million-Dollar Verdicts

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 ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Criminal Judge Randall D. Smith Virginia Circuit Courts

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 ...

Tagged with: General District Court Judge Randall D. Smith Judge Robert J. Humphreys Traffic Offenses Virginia Court of Appeals News

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 ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge Randall D. Smith Personal Injury

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 ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Judge Randall D. Smith Virginia Circuit Courts

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 ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge Randall D. Smith Personal Injury

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’ ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge Randall D. Smith Negligence Personal Injury

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 ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge Randall D. Smith Negligence Virginia Circuit Courts

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 ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Defamation Judge Randall D. Smith Million-Dollar Verdicts

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 ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Goochland County Circuit Court Judge H. Vincent Conway Judge John G. Berry Judge Randall D. Smith Virginia Circuit Courts