COVID-19 Considerations: Reducing Malpractice Risks
For decades, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual has helped its insureds reduce their malpractice risks. The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges for the legal system as lawyers and courts nationwide adjust their work environments to combat the virus. Alice Sherren, Senior Claims Attorney, shares insight and references the “ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct” to help avoid […]
Recent Legal Changes for Immigrant Abused, Neglected and Abandoned Children
Sponsored Content BACK | SPONSORED CONTENT HOME By Rachel L. D. Thompson She won first place as the top speed skater in the country for her age group (girls between 11 and 14 years of age) in 2018 and added a second gold medal the following year when she defended her title as the American […]
Issues to watch for when negotiating a solar lease
Sponsored Content BACK | SPONSORED CONTENT HOME By J. Court Shipman Solar energy is booming in Virginia. Solar developers are approaching landowners with attractive proposals promising passive income more lucrative than traditional farming. However, landowners should remember that the prospect for higher returns is coupled with greater risk. Solar projects involve decades-long commitments that wil[...]
Breaking up is hard to do: a less painful split in business
Sponsored Content BACK | SPONSORED CONTENT HOME By Julia Rust When I started practicing law, I knew I did not want to work in family law. So when I went into corporate law, I thought I had dodged a bullet. You can imagine my dismay when I realized that much of corporate law is just […]
IP advice when starting your own law firm
Sponsored Content BACK | SPONSORED CONTENT HOME By Rachel Brenke Jumping into the world of solo or small law firm ownership can be a new adventure, a way to escape big law or a step towards owning a piece of the entrepreneurial pie. Many new business owners – whether they’re in the legal field or […]
Mediating a workers’ compensation case
Sponsored Content BACK | SPONSORED CONTENT HOME By Brandon Osterbind For several years now, the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission has promoted mediation as another means of case resolution. The commission’s system relies on the expertise of the current sitting deputy commissioners who only hear workers’ compensation cases day in and day out. Workers’ compensation cases […]
Recent legislative changes on spousal support law
By Anne L. Roddy There are three important takeaway points for domestic relations lawyers from recent legislation – two bills from the 2018 General Assembly session and one from Congress: If you want spousal support to be non-modifiable, state that affirmatively in your agreements. Effective July 1, clients can retire at maximumsocial security age (currently 67) and that age is a mater[...]
When should a guardian ad litem be appointed in a child custody case?
By Erik Barnes In determining when courts may, must or should appoint a guardian ad litem, many factors come into play — the Constitution, statutes, the common law, and the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Guardians ad litem are appointed to represent the interests of those the law deems incapable of doing so for themselves, […]
The rise of mental health disabilities in the workplace
More on Employment Law in Virginia By Declan Leonard and Nick Johnson Ten years ago, it was not entirely clear whether an employee suffering from a mental health disorder was considered to have a “disability,” as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In fact, there were a number of decisions from federal courts around […]
What every company can learn from the Fox News sexual harassment fiasco
More on Employment Law in Virginia By Seth Berenzweig and Drew Smith With a medley of infographics, tickers and colorful personalities that leave the television more crowded than a fish market on Good Friday, Fox News ascended in the past decade to the zenith of cable news. Billing itself as “America’s #1 cable news network,” […]
When does ex-employee’s use of LinkedIn violate a non-solicitation agreement?
More on Employment Law in Virginia By Katie Lipp and David Moon LinkedIn has quickly emerged as the premier social media outlet for professional networking in the United States. However, while the platform presents an exciting opportunity for companies to identify job candidates, expand business networks and maintain client relationships, its networking features have given […]
Why employees may be the biggest risk for a cyber attack
More on Employment Law in Virginia By Steve Britt and Frank Gulino During tax season earlier this year, a human resources professional at a Virginia government contractor received an email purportedly from the company’s CEO requesting the 2016 tax forms for all of the company’s employees. She duly complied by reply email. An hour later, […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Plaintiff injured in crash with oncoming vehicle — $235,000 settlement
- Driver killed in rear-end collision with tractor-trailer — $1.5M settlement
- Man died from pancreatic cancer after delayed response — $1.8M settlement
- Worker fell off roof, rendering him a paraplegic — $1.25M settlement
- Driver sustained permanent hearing loss after traffic collision — $240,000 settlement
- Plaintiff suffered concussion in rear-end collision — $81,000 verdict
- Builder misrepresented home status to buyers — $675,000 verdict
- Low potassium led to cardiac arrest, death of patient — $1M settlement
- Excessive propofol caused death in dialysis patient — $850,000 settlement
- Pedestrian struck in crosswalk in hit-and-run incident — $300,000 settlement
- Navy veteran killed in collision with box truck — $1.85M arbitration award
- Motorcyclist ejected from bike in collision with SUV — $1.5M settlement
Opinion Digests
- Company owner dodges breach of contract suit
- Employee’s own allegations doom minimum wage claim
- Federal government defeats former employee’s claims
- Principal wasn’t entitled to exclusively remote work
- USPTO properly redacted info in responsive documents
- Untimely lawsuit allowed to proceed
- Engineering consultant dismissed from suit
- Rule 60 motion was filed too late
- Nonprofit directors immune from ex-employees’ claims
- City, employees immune from whistleblower claims
- Experts excluded in condemnation damages suit
- Judgment entered against company for horse’s death