In granting a motion to disqualify, the court found defense counsel’s representation of a government witness in an unrelated investigation presented a serious potential conflict in a tax fraud and money laundering case because the attorney might have obtained information ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Raymond A. Jackson U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The Hodges Law Offices took no steps to advance litigation during a debt verification process, and thus did not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which does not require a debt collector to dismiss an action initiated before a ...

Tagged with: Consumer Protection Judge John A. Gibney Jr. U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A Virginia man seeking to determine the ownership of shotguns from the collection he purchased in Florida had his suit transferred to Florida, where the Florida state courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida ...

Tagged with: Civil Practice Judge Liam O'Grady U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Because the plaintiff knew about the scheduled settlement conference, failed to alert the court about a conflict, decided not to attend contrary to advice from counsel and chose not to use electronic devices for communication, the case was dismissed with ...

Tagged with: Judge Roderick C. Young Sanctions U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The court found an employee’s claims that her supervisor’s use of the N-word, together with evidence of race-based comments and conduct, supported a hostile work environment claim, but that the conduct and mistreatment were not so intolerant as to support ...

Tagged with: Employment Discrimination Judge Mark Davis U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The Virginia Department of Corrections is not required to respond to the parts of non-party discovery that would be irrelevant or unduly burdensome, including disclosing the supplier of the chemicals the department uses in carrying out executions or the identities ...

Tagged with: Civil Rights Judge M. Hannah Lauck U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Although some claims against a school board were dismissed, a teacher alleged facts sufficient to infer she was the victim of race and age discrimination. Background Dannetta Spellman has filed an amended complaint in which she alleges the School Board ...

Tagged with: Employment Discrimination Judge Rebecca Beach Smith U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where a delay in filing motions did not prejudice the plaintiff, an employer did not waive its right to compel arbitration in a discrimination suit. Background Smiley, a 50-year-old white man, worked for Forcepoint as a salesman. He says that ...

Tagged with: Employment Discrimination Judge John A. Gibney Jr. U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where a money-laundering defendant brought a claim that her lawyer was ineffective, at sentencing she has asked if she had been satisfied with his services, answering yes, her ineffective assistance claim is denied. Background On Aug. 30, 2016, petitioner pleaded ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Claude M. Hilton U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A biotechnology company that challenged a final decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board is responsible for covering the government’s non-personnel charges. Background Halozyme brought this action pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 145, challenging a final decision issued by ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Claude M. Hilton U.S. District Court - Eastern District