In dispute involving natural gas pipeline “capacity release” and whether the parties had an enforceable contract for defendant natural gas producer to sell excess capacity to plaintiff energy company, a Richmond U.S. District Court grants summary judgment to the seller. ...

Tagged with: Contract Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

After in camera review of approximately 100 documents, a Richmond U.S. District Court overrules defendants’ claim of attorney-client privilege on all documents; defendants have failed to show their relationship with another company’s lawyers to extend the privilege to those communications; ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A Richmond U.S. District Court says a comparison of defendant corporation’s contacts with both the Richmond and Norfolk divisions shows this suit alleging breach of a noncompete contract should be transferred to the Norfolk division; and defendant’s assertion of a ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A Richmond U.S. District Court sets aside a $212 million award, reduced to $12.35 million, in this suit alleging a Fredericksburg-area man suffered severe nerve damage from BOTOX® used to treat a hand tremor condition; the court says the combination ...

Tagged with: Judge Robert E. Payne Products Liability U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Hand gestures by a plaintiff’s lawyer in closing argument led to a Richmond judge’s decision to overturn a verdict worth more than $12 million. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne said courtroom security video helped him decide that a trial ...

Tagged with: Federal Courts Judge Robert E. Payne Million-Dollar Verdicts Products Liability

Although plaintiff continues to complain that defendant lawyer has not complied with discovery orders in this suit alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, the Richmond U.S. District says defendant’s responses are ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A former special education teacher who alleges the county school board failed to take action against another employee who was abusive to students and staff, and who has sued on a variety of claims may not pursue her claim that ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Judge M. Hannah Lauck Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

In this multi-million dollar intellectual property case, a Richmond U.S. District Court grants judgment as a matter of law to defendant Kolon Industries Inc. on plaintiff DuPont’s claims for conversion and civil conspiracy; the federal court says Virginia courts would ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

In this multi-million dollar intellectual property case, a protective order entered by the Richmond U.S. District Court during discovery to protect the identities of witnesses who might be future witnesses or subjects of criminal proceedings cannot be extended to cover ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

SALEM—Business groups may be squealing about litigation costs, but a senior federal judge urges caution on discovery restrictions. In fact, Richmond Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne says big corporate defendants may share the blame for expensive lawsuits because ...

Tagged with: Federal Courts Judge Robert E. Payne