Free Newsletter
Tort- Government contractor liable for abuses at Abu Ghraib
The 4th Circuit affirmed a jury verdict holding CACI Premier Technology Inc. liable for torture and cruel treatment at Abu Ghraib under the Alien Tort Statute.
VDOT not immune in road upkeep case, judge rules
Virginia Department of Transportation denied blanket sovereign immunity in Fairfax County for alleged negligent intersection maintenance causing serious injury.
Parent & Child – Parents’ suit over removal of children from their care is dismissed
The western district of Virginia dismissed the Allmans’ suit challenging child removal, citing sovereign and judicial immunity and lack of jurisdiction.
COA: Whistleblower suit can move forward in part
The Court of Appeals of Virginia ruled that a whistleblower suit can proceed against a supervisor but not the City of Waynesboro due to sovereign immunity.
Ruling finds sovereign immunity based on ‘sliding scale’
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that subsidiaries of state entities may have sovereign immunity based on a totality of circumstances test in employment disputes.
SCOTUS weighs in on transit corp. immunity
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled NJ Transit is not entitled to sovereign immunity in negligence lawsuits from New York and Pennsylvania plaintiffs.
SCOTUS: State-created transit corp. not immune from PI suits
U.S. Supreme Court rules New Jersey Transit is not entitled to sovereign immunity, allowing negligence lawsuits over bus accidents in New York and Pennsylvania.
Prisons – Former inmate’s suit against prison officials is dismissed
Former inmate Henry P. Wright’s lawsuit against federal prison officials alleging constitutional and Title IX violations was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim.
SCOTUS: Postal Service can’t be sued for ‘intentional’ failure to deliver mail
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the FTCA’s postal exception bars claims over intentional mail nondelivery, shielding USPS under sovereign immunity.
Sovereign immunity did not protect city trash truck driver
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled sovereign immunity did not protect a city trash truck driver who ran a stop sign while driving normally.
Agency board member shielded by sovereign immunity
The Virginia Court of Appeals held sovereign immunity barred claims against a public board member acting within statutory authority.
Sovereign immunity protects city from suit over speed camera ticket
Virginia Court of Appeals rules Suffolk is shielded by sovereign immunity in lawsuit over speed camera ticket issued in a highway work zone.
Verdicts & Settlements
- 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
- Premises Liability- Gas grill explosion left mom with severe burn injuries
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Crash video showed force of Tesla rear-end collision
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – 74-year-old injured in two-vehicle crash
- Employment- Arbitrator finds unfair labor practices by school
- Medical Malpractice- Gallbladder removal surgery results in reparative procedure
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Car with mother, two children broadsided, rolled several times
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Driver, passenger suffer injuries after truck crosses into lane
- Fraud – Jury sides with couple in home construction case
Opinion Digests
- Criminal – Man convicted for role in robbery that ends in murder
- Search & Seizure – Search of defendant’s backpack was not unlawful
- Criminal – Man convicted of strangling, assaulting and abducting his romantic partner
- Criminal – Woman ordered to pay victim $4,359.28 for vehicle damage
- Evidence – Court didn’t err in admitting unavailable witness’s testimony
- Criminal – Sexually violent predator recommitted to Commonwealth’s custody
- Criminal – Felon is convicted for unlawful possession of firearm
- Criminal – Evidence shows police would have inevitably found firearm
- Criminal – Evidence supports fentanyl possession/distribution conviction
- Search & Seizure – Defendant wasn’t entitled to copy of search warrant
- Search & Seizure – Officer didn’t improperly extend traffic stop
- Negligence- Court won’t limit expert testimony at alleged malpractice trial
