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Norfolk firm announces re-election of board members
Vandeventer Black, the Norfolk-based business and litigation law firm, has announced the re-election of two executive board members for 2019. Partners Deborah M. Casey and James R. Harvey were re-elected to continue to serve with fellow partners Edward J. Powers, Mark S. Brennan Sr. and Michael L. Sterling on the board. “We thank our partners […]
Ex-partner sues LeClairRyan for gender discrimination
A federal lawsuit paints an unflattering picture of male-dominated leadership at the Richmond-based LeClairRyan law firm, but the firm contends the criticism is misplaced. Former LeClairRyan partner Michele Burke Craddock claims in her lawsuit that she was a victim of pervasive gender discrimination before she left the firm last year. She says the workplace hostility […]
Lawyer’s payout forfeiture barred by ethics rule
A law firm cannot enforce a 50-percent penalty clause in its payout contract for departing attorneys who take firm clients with them, an Alexandria federal judge has ruled. The Nov. 6 ruling could be worth as much as $150,000 to the departing lawyer, according to figures disclosed in an earlier opinion in the case. The […]
LeClairRyan accused of gender discrimination
A former partner at the Richmond-based LeClairRyan law firm is accusing the firm of discriminating against her and other female attorneys in pay and promotion decisions. Michele Burke Craddock claims she was denied credit for bringing in a case that later produced fees of more than $20 million for the firm. She alleges other female […]
Judge rejects privilege claim in foreclosure case
Consumer advocates who claim a Virginia law firm cut corners and overcharged struggling homeowners on high volume foreclosure work won a discovery victory last month. A federal judge swept aside privilege claims and ordered production of communications between the law firm and a company that monitored lawyers’ foreclosure work. The decision follows an August ruling […]
Why associates leave and how to stop them
One of the most serious challenges facing law firms today is recruiting and retaining young talent. Firms of all sizes are finding it increasingly difficult to hold onto associates for more than a few years. That means partners and firm administrators have to pay more attention to keeping their best young lawyers in the fold. […]
Lawyer accused of self-dealing in handling of family assets
A long simmering battle over millions in family assets has led to a 14-count lawsuit demanding $48 million from an Alexandria lawyer, his law firm and three other people. Attorney Bruce W. Henry is accused in a 90-page complaint of taking control of valuable commercial real estate which an Alexandria businessman intended to convey to […]
A scam averted: Familiar ploy still being tried on Virginia attorneys
A Stafford lawyer says he wants to sound the alarm about a sophisticated scam that almost cost him a six-figure loss. It’s a shakedown attempt that has been tried on law firms in Virginia and across the country, with occasional success. This time the intended victim got wise. Attorney Richard R. Nageotte was getting ready […]
Kinser joins law firm in Roanoke
Less than six months after retiring from the Supreme Court of Virginia and from the demanding role of Chief Justice, Cynthia D. Kinser will resume a part-time law practice this week. Kinser, 63, starts May 5 as senior counsel with the Roanoke-based law firm of Gentry Locke. Her practice will focus on appeals, federal criminal […]
Lawyer can’t tap firm’s auto policy for accident
A Washington lawyer who did some legal work at his Virginia home was nonetheless not covered by his law firm’s auto insurance policy for an accident on the way to the office that left another man seriously injured. The decision came April 16 from the Supreme Court of Virginia. The court’s opinion is Bartolomucci v. […]
Court sets rule for departners – lawyers who leave a firm
The Supreme Court of Virginia has adopted ground rules for the battles that arise when law firms break up or lawyers split from firms to practice elsewhere. Until now, the only guidance for dealing with often-confused clients has come from legal ethics opinions. After much tinkering with language through the rule-adoption process, the guidance now […]
Williams Mullen resists State Fair conflict claims
The Richmond-based Williams Mullen law firm is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit accusing the firm of helping one client acquire the State Fair of Virginia at the expense of another client seeking the same prize. The claims of the disappointed client “rise no higher than rank speculation,” the firm said in its […]
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
