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Bar seeking comment on proposed bylaw amendments
The Virginia State Bar is seeking comment from the public on proposed amendments to the VSB Bylaws and Bylaws of the Council of the VSB.
Custis, Moore to receive honors from state bar
The Virginia State Bar will honor a pair of Virginia attorneys later this year with awards. Onancock attorney Henry P. Custis Jr. is this year’s recipient of the Tradition of Excellence Award from the Virginia State Bar’s General Practice Section, according to a May 11 announcement from the VSB. On May 16, the VSB announced […]
Two lawyers disbarred for preying on elderly clients
Two Virginia lawyers have been stripped of their licenses for taking advantage of elderly clients. Each contested a lengthy list of alleged ethics violations, but both lost their battles with the Virginia State Bar. One lawyer was found to have crafted a will leaving the bulk of a widow’s $1.7 million estate to himself. The […]
No sanctions for ex-judge; bar dismisses charges
A former Roanoke judge was not sanctioned after the Virginia State Bar dismissed charges of misconduct following a Dec. 17 hearing. The ruling came after a 14-hour hearing that put former Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge John Weber III’s relationship with a former client under the microscope. Weber returned to private practice in 2021 […]
VSB rates candidates for Supreme Court vacancy
A Virginia State Bar committee has reported recommendations to the General Assembly for 15 candidates for a pending vacancy on the Supreme Court of Virginia. The VSB’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, or JCEC, rated the candidates as “qualified” or “highly qualified” to serve on the high court. The vacancy on the Supreme Court was created […]
VSB to evaluate 18 for Supreme Court vacancy
The Virginia State Bar is set to evaluate 18 candidates for an upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court of Virginia. The individual selected will replace Judge William C. Mims, who announced his retirement from the bench on July 28. Mims, who has served on the court since 2010, will retire when his term ends on […]
Rule on lawyer and client sex rejected
The Supreme Court of Virginia has rejected changes proposed by the Virginia State Bar to the Rules of Professional Conduct prohibiting a lawyer from having sexual relations with a current client. In a letter dated July 21, the court denied the VSB’s petition to amend Rules 1.8, 1.10 and 1.15. No reason for the denial […]
Remote work: LEO clarifies issues surrounding out-of-state lawyers
A North Carolina-based attorney can work out of at a vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia so long as he works only on cases involving North Carolina or federal law, according to a proposed Legal Ethics Opinion from the Virginia State Bar. Proposed LEO 1896 states that Virginia has no interest in regulating […]
VSB rates 45 for 7 appeals court seats
A Virginia State Bar committee has reported recommendations to the General Assembly for 45 candidates for seven vacancies on the Virginia Court of Appeals. The VSB’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, or JCEC, rated candidates as “qualified” or “highly qualified” for the court. The candidates were recommended based on votes taken across several interview dates, including […]
VSB opinion: Non-lawyer can’t go into court on POA
VIRGINIA BEACH – A proposed Unauthorized Practice of Law opinion concluding that a non-lawyer cannot file pleadings and appear in court pursuant to a power of attorney without running afoul of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act was unanimously approved at the Virginia State Bar Annual Meeting on June 18. The opinion, proposed UPL opinion […]
Client must hear of potential fee claim; fired attorney may be entitled to some recovery
A lawyer who takes on a contingency-fee case after the client has fired a previous lawyer has an ethical duty to inform the client that the first lawyer may have a financial claim for the work she did, according to a new Legal Ethics Opinion just approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia. LEO 1878 […]
Interviews planned for appeals court candidates
Volunteer lawyers are gearing up to evaluate 46 candidates identified by legislators as new potential contenders for seven open seats on the soon-to-be expanded Court of Appeals of Virginia. The process will take a few months longer than anticipated. General Assembly leaders are hoping to get recommendations from various bar organizations by July 30. The […]
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
