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No recovery for tire explosion injury
An insurer is not liable for a truck driver’s injuries caused by a tire that exploded while the insured party was repairing it because insurance policy unambiguously excluded claims arising […]
Any hearsay error was harmless in arson case
Defendant’s arson conviction is affirmed despite his argument that admission of a witness’s written report to a fire marshal was inadmissible hearsay. Any error was harmless in light of the […]
Evidentiary error requires new trial on damages
The circuit court erred by allowing an assault victim to present evidence that as a result of an altercation with his attackers, he was arrested, had to post bail, hire […]
Felon’s ammo possession conviction is upheld
The Court of Appeals correctly determined there was sufficient evidence to find that defendant, a convicted felon, violated Code § 18.2-308.2(A) by constructively possessing shotgun shells found in his pickup […]
Court correctly refused to excuse venire members
Where plaintiff challenges a verdict for the defense in this medical malpractice case on the basis that the court should have excused two venire members for cause, the verdict is […]
Missing record number in joint appeal is not defect
Where the proceedings for defendant’s plea-based convictions of new crimes and his probation revocation had separate record numbers, his failure to list both numbers in his joint appeal was not […]
JDR court had jurisdiction to modify support award
Where the juvenile and domestic relations court denied appellant’s request to modify a child support order and he appealed to the circuit court but later withdrew it, the JDR court […]
Late habeas corpus petition dismissed
The statute of limitations governing habeas corpus petitions does not violate the Virginia Constitution’s Suspension Clause. Background Petitioner Brown seeks habeas relief from his 1970 murder conviction and the resulting […]
Appellant properly required to register as violent sex offender
Where appellant’s Idaho conviction of sexually abusing a child under the age of 16 required him to annually register as a sex offender in that state, he was properly required, […]
Order confirming just compensation award was final for appeal purposes
The 30-day period in which to appeal a jury’s just compensation award in this condemnation case began to run when the circuit court entered its order confirming the award. The […]
Harmless error ruling not challenged, conviction upheld
Where a police officer, after fatally wounding a shoplifting suspect, told a store loss-prevention officer, “I need you as a witness. It’s my second one[,]” his voluntary manslaughter conviction is […]
Counsel’s failure to appear due to illness warranted continuance
Where the circuit court sua sponte dismissed plaintiff’s personal injury case with prejudice after counsel informed the court and opposing counsel that he was too ill to appear for trial, […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- 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
- Motor Vehicle Negligence Woman struck by vehicle loses senses of taste, smell
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Pedestrian struck by car while in parking lot
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Driver fractures right leg in tractor-trailer collision
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Motorcyclist hit by car suffers two broken wrists
- Medical Malpractice – Young patient commits suicide while on psychoactive drugs
- Motor Vehicle Negligence- Art teacher’s hand injured in collision
Opinion Digests
- Criminal – Sentence for ‘unusually heinous’ conduct is affirmed
- Criminal – Sentence wasn’t unreasonable despite deportation consequences
- Appeals – Waiver in plea agreement forecloses most arguments on appeal
- Appeals – Appellant’s informal brief forfeited appellate review
- Employment – Failure to exhaust administrative remedies dooms Title VII suit
- Jurors – Dishonest juror didn’t violate defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights
- Criminal – Motion to suppress backpack denied where defendant abandoned item
- Civil Rights – Officer denied immunity in fatal shooting case
- Civil Rights – No qualified immunity on excessive force police K-9 claim
- Criminal – Probable cause includes dog’s positive alert for narcotics
- Criminal – Evidence supports obstruction of justice conviction
- Search & Seizure – Inventory search exception applies to warrantless search
