Free Newsletter
Minor struck by electric scooter, fractured skull — $296,000 settlement
Type of action: Personal injury Injuries alleged: Depressed skull fracture, concussion without loss of consciousness Name of case: Gorski v. Ingrassia Case no.: CL21-2135 Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Verdict or settlement: Settlement Amount: $296,000 Attorneys for plaintiff (and city): John C. Shea and Tara A. Enix, Richmond Description of case: On June 22, 2019, […]
Jury sides with prominent public figure in defamation suit — $5M verdict
Type of action: Defamation Name of case: Oliver v. Cohen Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Case no.: CL 19-692 Tried before: Jury Name of judge or mediator: Judge Beverly W. Snukals (Ret.) Date resolved: 4/1/2022 Demand: $10,000,000 Offer: $250,000 Verdict or settlement: Verdict Amount: $5,000,000 Attorneys for plaintiff (and city): Jeremiah A. Denton III and […]
Patient sustained nasal injury during surgery — $1.1M verdict
Type of action: Medical malpractice Injuries alleged: Cautery injuries to nose resulting in full thickness soft tissue loss of right alar rim and columella Name of case: Wall v. Princess Anne ENT & Allergy, P.C. Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Case no.: CL 20-5999 Tried before: Jury Name of judge or mediator: Judge James C. […]
Man crushed in accident while addressing disabled vehicle — $1M settlement
Type of action: Personal injury Injuries alleged: Traumatic brain injury Name of case: Snipes v. Winslow Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Tried before: Mediation Name of judge or mediator: Judge Thomas Shadrick (Ret.) Special damages: Past medical expenses totaling $797,093 Verdict or settlement: Settlement Amount: $1,000,000 Attorneys for plaintiff (and city): Griffin O’Hanlon and Bill [&hel[...]
Wheelchair-bound elderly woman dies after fall in memory care center — $439,803.75 verdict
Type of action: Assisted living facility negligence Injuries alleged: Wrongful death Name of case: Maureen Mike, Adm. of the Estate of Joan Condon, deceased v. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Health Center, Inc. Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Case no.: CL20-002434 Tried before: Jury Name of judge or mediator: Judge James Lewis Date resolved: 11/18/2021 […]
No certification of fact statement for appeal
Where the court sustained defendants’ demurrer to plaintiffs’ complaint, which alleged that portions of COVID-related executive orders are unconstitutional, plaintiffs’ proposed statement of facts submitted after their notice of appeal is defective and cannot be certified. The court issues a “Statement in Lieu of Judge’s Certificate” to explain why the proposed statement is defective. [...]
Verdict reached in case resulting in police shooting, wrongful death — $1M verdict
Type of action: Wrongful death; police shooting Injuries alleged: Death Name of case: Tyree v. Colas Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Case no.: CL19-6418 Tried before: Jury Name of judge or mediator: Judge Kevin M. Duffan Date resolved: 9/30/2021 Verdict or settlement: Verdict Amount: $1,000,000 Attorney for plaintiff (and city): Kevin E. Martingayle, Virginia Beach; […]
Corporate officers are not employers in unpaid wage case
A corporation’s president and its chair of the board are not “employers” for purposes of plaintiffs’ claim for unpaid wages under Code § 40.1-29(J). Overview Defendant Christian Psychotherapy Services employed Cornell and Sparks as clinical psychologists. CPS was a family owned business. Dr. Page Huff was the founder and president. After his death, the family […]
Ophthalmology practice found not negligent in post-op treatment — Defense verdict
Type of action: Medical malpractice Injuries alleged: Permanent corneal scarring, permanent visual deficiencies Name of case: Hartranft v. Anonymous Ophthalmology Practice Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court Tried before: Jury Name of judge or mediator: Judge James C. Lewis Date resolved: 5/21/2021 Demand: $2,200,000 Verdict or settlement: Verdict Amount: Defense verdict Attorneys for defendant (a[...]
Bridge and tunnel district immune from tort claim
Where a truck driver died from hypothermia and drowning in Chesapeake Bay after the tractor-trailer he was driving went through a guardrail, sovereign immunity bars claims by the driver’s estate against the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel (CBBT) District. Overview As Chen “approached the southbound entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (hereinafter the ‘CBBT’), […]
Tobacco products in plain view no basis for car search
Even though police saw tobacco products in plain view after stopping a vehicle, in which all occupants were too young to legally possess tobacco products, this did not justify a vehicle search. Defendant’s motion to suppress cocaine found during the search is granted. Further, the fact that two officers detected a faint smell of unburnt […]
Handwritten document treated as decedent’s will
Petitioners have established by clear and convincing evidence that the decedent intended an unwitnessed document handwritten by another but signed by the decedent to constitute her will. Background About a month before she died, Watkins, the decedent, signed a document handwritten by Barrett, who was the decedent’s “trusted financial advisor.” The document provided that it […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- 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
- Jury rules in plaintiff’s favor in defamation suit with city — $300,000 verdict
- Woman missed step on walkway, rupturing Achilles tendon — $160,000 settlement
- Court dismisses suit in hit-and-run death of 2-year-old
Opinion Digests
- Debtor fails to show that signatures were forged
- Alleged defect in service of process excused
- Sales reps defeat injunction motion by former employer
- Court refuses to strike damages expert’s report
- Company can’t dismiss securities class action
- Defendants sued for not repaying loan
- No claim for ACA retaliation outside employment arena
- Plaintiffs awarded $33K in damages, $324K in fees
- Bank dodges claim for customer’s in-person transfer
- Jury to decide who is on hook for $207K loss
- Woman claims hospital did not offer appropriate exam
- Board members accused of political patronage
