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Bar seeks comment on ethics opinion over AI-generated errors
The Virginia State Bar is soliciting public comment on a proposed legal ethics opinion pertaining to duties when opposing counsel fails to review and correct outputs from generative artificial intelligence. The opinion, Proposed Legal Ethics Opinion […]
High court approves LEO, amends Legal Aid Counsel Rule
The Supreme Court of Virginia on Jan. 6 approved a legal ethics opinion that questioned whether a lawyer representing a client on a flat or fixed fee agreement can provide for an alternative fee arrangement if the client ends the relationship without cause.
Remote work: LEO clarifies issues surrounding out-of-state lawyers
A North Carolina-based attorney can work out of at a vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia so long as he works only on cases involving North Carolina or […]
Virtual office reality
Virtual offices have become a staple of American society. In 2016, 43% of employed Americans said they worked remotely or virtually at least once a week, according to the study […]
No duty to report impaired colleague
VIRGINIA BEACH – Lawyers have no duty under bar ethics rules to report or intervene with an impaired attorney unless the impairment leads to a violation of those rules. But […]
Defendants get new deportation warnings
At the urging of a civil rights lawyer, the Supreme Court of Virginia has added deportation warnings to suggested questions for judges to ask criminal defendants when they plead guilty. […]
Lawyers can pay themselves bankruptcy fees at filing time
The Virginia State Bar‘s ethics committee has made it official: Lawyers may claim their full flat fees for consumer bankruptcies at the time of filing the bankruptcy petitions. The guidance […]
Bar offers guide for bankruptcy flat fees
“Take the money at filing time” is the advice suggested by a committee of the Virginia State Bar for attorneys charging up-front flat fees for no-asset bankruptcy cases. The VSB […]
Final VSB LEO has limited ‘Padilla’ duty for prosecutors
Virginia prosecutors may have an ethical duty to avoid plea bargains that could lead to defendants’ deportation under new guidance from the Virginia State Bar, but only in limited circumstances. […]
Prosecutors balking at proposed new ethical duty
A Virginia State Bar panel is still pondering how best to prevent criminal defendants from unwittingly creating immigration problems for themselves when they accept plea offers in misdemeanor cases. A […]
Prosecutors would have duty under VSB proposal
A new effort to ensure that immigrant criminal defendants don’t unwittingly risk deportation would impose an ethical burden on prosecutors. Prosecutors are expected to question whether they should be put […]
Ghostwriting not an ethical violation, VSB says
Lawyers will not be in trouble with the Virginia State Bar for ghostwriting pleadings for pro se litigants, but they still have to use care about where those pleadings might […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Medical Malpractice-Patient received spleen injury during colonoscopy
- Medical Malpractice – Patient suffers complications from improper cyst removal
- Motor Vehicle Negligence Henrico driver sustained wrist fracture in five-car collision
- Medical Malpractice-Patient dies following blood loss in surgery
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Defense points to plaintiff’s prior collision, stressors
- Medical Malpractice – Ingrown toenail removal leads to CRPS type 2
- Motor Vehicle Negligence Rear-seat passenger injured when car hits telephone pole
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Car crash after back surgery causes additional injuries
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with cardiologist over treatment of strokes
- Negligence and Tort- Ice pack use during tattoo removal causes frostbite
- Workers’ Compensation Struck by metal door at workplace, plaintiff sustains subdural hematoma
Opinion Digests
- Prisons – VDOC must respond to discovery requests
- Criminal – Spouses convicted of construction fraud
- Landlord and tenant – Tenant’s challenge to eviction is dismissed
- Tort – Lawsuit by ‘sting’ victim against conservative organization is dismissed
- Criminal – Defendant’s request to withdraw guilty plea is denied
- Employment – Fairfax County prevails on firefighter’s employment claims
- Prisons – Multiple experts precluded in suit over inmate’s death
- Criminal – District court sufficiently explained resentencing decision
- Criminal – Wealth of evidence supports firearm possession conviction
- Criminal – District court wrongly refused to order forfeiture
- Criminal – Man convicted of killing informant
- Negligence – Jury will decide if business was negligent in slip-and-fall case
