A Virginia state court has substantially reduced a jury’s award of $95,000 in compensatory damages and $105,000 in punitive damages in a malicious prosecution case. Although the plaintiff suffered greatly and incurred almost $100,000 in medical bills, Judge Everett A. ...

Tagged with: damages Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. Malicious Prosecution Norfolk Circuit Court Virginia Circuit Courts

A clause in a property settlement agreement requiring “great care” before either party introduces a romantic partner to the child is vague and cannot be enforced. Further, where the court has ruled that the parties will pay their child’s unreimbursed ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Fairfax Circuit Court Judge David Bernhard Virginia Circuit Courts

Where the child’s mother, father and grandmother had legal custody, and the grandmother had primary physical custody, mother’s physical custody petition is denied. Although there has been a material change in circumstances, the child’s best interest is served by continuing ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Judge David W. Lannetti Norfolk City Circuit Court Virginia Circuit Courts

Where two defendants in this four co-defendant jury trial have moved to change venue from Fauquier County, the motions are granted because the existing courtrooms in Fauquier County cannot adequately handle the logistics of conducting the trial. Introduction Four defendants ...

Tagged with: 20th Circuit Court Criminal Judge James E. Plowman Jr. Virginia Circuit Courts

Where plaintiff claims that defendant, a mortgage loan servicer, breached a contract, plaintiff’s claim is dismissed because “the Court is unable to determine exactly what [plaintiff] is claiming[.]” Overview In 2005, Perez, the plaintiff in this case, alleges that she ...

Tagged with: Contract Judge David W. Lannetti Norfolk City Circuit Court Virginia Circuit Courts

Where petitioner sought a protective order in the JDR court after respondent received a summons for speeding while the parties’ daughter was in the vehicle, the JDR court’s denial of petitioner’s oral motion for a protective order is upheld on ...

Tagged with: Civil Practice Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Richard E. Gardiner Virginia Circuit Courts

Where a jury awarded plaintiff’s decedent compensatory and punitive damages for his malicious prosecution claim, the evidence does not support the amounts awarded. Plaintiff must accept a remittitur or a new trial limited to the issue of damages. Background Officers ...

Tagged with: Civil Practice Norfolk City Circuit Court Virginia Circuit Courts

Where appellant seeks to appeal  the general district court’s denial of preliminary protective orders, the circuit court lacks appellate jurisdiction because there is no final order in this matter. Not final “When the Circuit Court exercises its appellate jurisdiction in ...

Tagged with: Civil Practice Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen C. Shannon Virginia Circuit Courts

Where the court previously ruled that the boundary line between the parties’ property is defendants’ fence, which is on land defendants obtained by adverse possession, the fact that a roof eave on plaintiffs’ shed overhangs the fence does not defeat ...

Tagged with: Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge David Bernhard Real Estate Virginia Circuit Courts

Where a prosecutor and the Arlington County Police Department have requested a geo-fence search warrant, the warrant will not issue because it “lacks sufficient particularity and reads as a general warrant.” Relevant facts “The Commonwealth’s Attorney, with the Arlington County ...

Tagged with: Arlington County Circuit Court Criminal Judge Daniel Fiore II Virginia Circuit Courts