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Supreme Court permits bar to engage in legislative activity on dues increase
The Supreme Court of Virginia approved the VSB's request to lobby for changes to the $250 dues cap, unchanged since 1995, to address rising operational costs.
Powell elected Supreme Court of Virginia chief justice
The justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously elected Justice Cleo E. Powell as chief justice-elect, the court said in a Tuesday announcement. Powell will become the first African […]
Supreme Court clarifies distinction between retainer, advanced legal fee
The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled a lawyer violated ethics rules by keeping nonrefundable consultation fees without providing legal services.
Attorneys: Attorney sanctioned for charging non-refundable consultation fee
Where an attorney charged a consultation fee that he refused to return, even when the consultation did not go forward, he violated Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(a) and 1.15(a)(1).
Commercial: Private toll road owner denied permission to significantly increase tolls
Where the State Corporation Commission’s decision denying a toll road owner’s request to significantly increase tolls was not contrary to the evidence or without evidentiary support, it was affirmed.
Bar applauds expansion of emeritus bar eligibility
Virginia eases rules for emeritus lawyers to expand pro bono legal services and address access to justice in underserved communities facing legal deserts.
Evidence: Extrinsic evidence was properly admitted by circuit court
Where the circuit court admitted extrinsic evidence to prove the contents of an illegible liability-release contract, it did not err. The parol evidence rule did not bar the admission of the unsigned release because it was not offered to construe the contract’s terms beyond their plain meaning; instead, it was offered merely to verify those terms.
Access to Justice Commission hosting statewide listening tour
Join the Virginia Access to Justice hearing on June 24 to share challenges finding legal help. Hosted by the Supreme Court of Virginia and EGAD VA.
Criminal: Conviction for criminal trespassing is reinstated
Where a man convicted of criminal trespassing argued the circuit court should have instructed the jury on his defense that he had a good-faith belief that he was entitled to be on the property, this argument was rejected. There were no objective facts from which the man could have concluded that he had a right to be present, and building security and law enforcement repeatedly asked him to leave, [...]
Broadband installation statute unconstitutional
The Supreme Court of Virginia rules a broadband law unconstitutional for enabling private takings without public use.
Supreme Court of Virginia amends rule on emeritus class members
The Supreme Court of Virginia amended its rules to expand emeritus attorney eligibility, aiming to boost pro bono legal aid for underserved communities.
Chief Justice Goodwyn receives 2024 Carrico Award
Supreme Court of Virginia Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn was honored with the 2024 Carrico Award for exceptional service and leadership in Virginia’s judicial system.
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
