Suppression Hearing Testimony Used at Trial
Although a police officer said that he had “found something” in the car defendant was driving, defendant’s statement that it did not belong to him was not enough to overturn his conviction of marijuana possession with intent to distribute third offense, says the Court of Appeals. Defendant later moved to vacate his conviction on the […]
Stalker Must Serve Suspended Sentences
A defendant who apparently continued to send an ex-girlfriend anonymous text messages after he was released from jail for his 19 misdemeanor violations of the protective order she had obtained against him, and who frightened her by twice following her to a 7-11 parking lot, is convicted of violating the protective order and the terms […]
Demolition Defense Fails in Theft Case
The Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions of grand larceny and felony private property destruction based on evidence that a real estate agent who came to a house to remove the “for sale” sign discovered defendant and another man inside the home, which had been forcibly entered and vandalized and had missing copper pipes and […]
Background Check Supports ‘Inevitable Discovery’
A split panel says a trial court did not err in applying the inevitable discovery doctrine to admit evidence of the drugs found on defendant’s person, and the Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions of possession of cocaine and marijuana. Police officers on patrol at a motel detected the smell of marijuana coming from a […]
Four Booze Sales Leads to 12 Convictions
A defendant’s 12 convictions arising out of four separate sales of alcoholic beverages without a license did not constitute double jeopardy and violate Va. Code § 19.2-294, and the Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions. On Feb. 7, Feb. 22, April 19 and June 17, 2013, defendant sold alcoholic beverages to undercover agents of the […]
Background Check Supports ‘Inevitable Discovery’
A split panel says a trial court did not err in applying the inevitable discovery doctrine to admit evidence of the drugs found on defendant’s person, and the Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions of possession of cocaine and marijuana. Police officers on patrol on a motel detected the smell of marijuana coming from a […]
Four Booze Sales Leads to 12 Convictions
A defendant’s 12 convictions arising out of four separate sales of alcoholic beverages without a license did not constitute double jeopardy and violate Va. Code § 19.2-294, and the Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions. On Feb. 7, Feb. 22, April 19 and June 17, 2013, defendant sold alcoholic beverages to undercover agents of the […]
P.O. Ordered for Dad’s ‘Parental Alienation’
The Court of Appeals upholds a protective order providing for supervised visitation, entered on a petition by the local social services department, based on sufficient evidence that appellant’s daughter was abused or neglected; the trial court found father used the child as “some chess piece in a game” during contentious divorce litigation, and that the […]
Shots Fired Supported Intent
Although no witness actually saw defendant shoot his gun at a law enforcement officer, the evidence showed that defendant, who was riding a horse in a wooded area, fired shots and a ricochet struck the officer in the leg, and the Court of Appeals affirms defendant’s convictions of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement […]
Brick Wall Not ‘Actual Risk’ for Guard
A security guard who fell backwards when she sat on a low brick wall at her workplace cannot show that her accident was causally related to any actual risk at her workplace, and the Court of Appeals reverses a workers’ comp award for claimant’s neck injury. Employer does not dispute that an accident occurred or […]
Wife in contempt for college fund withdrawals
A wife faces a contempt citation for violating a settlement agreement that required her to “retain” two college savings accounts for her children. She drained one account of over $81,000, prompting the husband to file a show cause petition asserting she violated their agreement. The wife then withdrew $10,000 from a second account with $42,029. […]
Contempt for Mom Who Drained College Account
A wife was in contempt of a couple’s property settlement agreement to each “retain” two of the four children’s § 529 college savings accounts, when she liquidated one account for over $80,000 and withdrew $10,000 from the second account; the Court of Appeals says the PSA was not ambiguous and wife violated the agreement. Wife […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Jury reaches defense verdict in $4M med mal action
- Dental hygienist tripped, fractured right wrist, foot — $190,000 settlement
- Couple contracted Hepatitis A after dining at restaurant — $5.5M settlement
- Elderly man suffers hip fracture after attack by neighbor’s dog — $350,000 settlement
- Motorcyclist injured when vehicle abruptly changed lanes — $300,000 verdict
- Passenger ejected from car in high-speed chase crash — $685,000 settlement
- Defense verdict reached in fraud suit
- 8-year-old killed in crash involving tractor-trailer — $1,100,000 settlement
- Plaintiff conceived child after vasectomy — $250,000 settlement
- Delay in diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy led to surgery — $283,432.18 settlement
- Golfer stepped in sinkhole, fractured ankle — $442,000 verdict
- Jury sides with woman injured in rear-end collision — $300,000 verdict
viewpoint
- The promise and peril of artificial intelligence in patent law
- Keys to becoming an unfrazzled lawyer
- Confused about federal COVID-19 emergencies ending? You’re not alone
- Generative AI in law: New survey of lawyer perspectives and plans
- Four misconceptions about appeals
- Font choice exposes fabricated document
- USPTO launches first-time filer expedited exam pilot program
- In times of crisis, the ‘tug of war’ is over
- The ever-evolving Fourth Circuit
- Federal protections for pregnant, nursing employees coming
- It’s time for employers to embrace the ‘Big Quit’ and adapt
- Tell the whole truth? I’ll do better than that