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Ashland’s Smallenberg surrenders law license
A Hanover County lawyer with a long list of discipline complaints has agreed to surrender his license. Robert H. Smallenberg of Ashland consented to revocation with nine complaints pending against him, according to an order and affidavit provided by the Virginia State Bar. Many of the complaints involved accounting for clients’ money and communication with […]
VSB ethics panel scratches 2 LEOs
The Virginia State Bar Legal Ethics Committee has withdrawn two 1990 legal ethics opinions out of concern they might lead lawyers astray in matters involving powers of attorney. The two opinions – LEO 1313 and 1339 – take the view that a law firm hired to prepare a power of attorney is representing the attorney […]
Circuit courts using new cover sheets for civil actions
What’s your lawsuit about? It should be easier to tell with the new cover sheet published by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Attorneys filing circuit court civil actions are asked to use the new cover sheet form available at the court’s website. The court modified the uniform cover sheet at the behest of the 2012 […]
Contested election is VSB’s first since ’01
The national presidential election is over, but there’s another vote yet to cast. Ballots have been mailed to Virginia lawyers in the race for president-elect of the Virginia State Bar, the first such contested election since 2001. Arlington’s Ray Benzinger and Kevin Martingayle of Virginia Beach – both with years of service to the VSB […]
VSB task force proposes criminal discovery reforms
A proposal to expand the minimum requirements for discovery in Virginia criminal cases is open for comment at the Virginia State Bar. Many criminal defense lawyers have argued for years prosecutors should have to share more of their information in criminal cases. Many prosecutors say the law is adequate as it is. The changes offered […]
Felon should get law license back, VSB says
The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board has recommended reinstatement of a law license for K. Dennis Sisk, who lost his license in 2005 after he represented his own drug dealer in Richmond federal court while his law license was suspended. The board issued its split decision calling for reinstatement at the close of an Oct. […]
Quinn named to VSB council
Vienna’s Dennis J. Quinn, a past president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, will fill an unexpired Fairfax County vacancy on the Virginia State Bar council, VSB executive director Karen Gould announced Monday. Quinn was the only person who filed a candidate petition by the advertised Friday deadline, Gould said. With only the one […]
Quinn named to VSB council
Vienna’s Dennis J. Quinn, a past president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, will fill an unexpired Fairfax County vacancy on the Virginia State Bar council, VSB executive director Karen Gould announced Monday. Quinn was the only person who filed a candidate petition by the advertised Friday deadline, Gould said. With only the one […]
Payee notification passes VSB Council unanimously
ROANOKE – A plan to require insurance companies to notify clients of insurance claim payments made to their lawyers won unanimous approval from the Virginia State Bar council Oct. 19. The proposal had a tangled and contentious history. Approval came only after the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association accepted the version of payee notification hammered out […]
Court proposes to drop full-time rule for waived-in lawyers
Following angry reactions prompted by examination of the rules for “waived in” lawyers, the Supreme Court of Virginia is proposing to drop its full-time practice requirement. The change would affect lawyers who were licensed in other states and then admitted to the bar in Virginia by reciprocity, without taking the Virginia bar exam. Many of […]
Lawyer with felony never was revoked
A Fairfax County attorney who thought her law license was revoked after a 2007 federal felony conviction got a surprise earlier this year when she sought reinstatement. She was still in good standing. Her license never was impacted by the conviction, even though she promptly self-reported to the Virginia State Bar.
Ethics case centers on lawyer’s conflict check
An Eastern Shore lawyer is fighting to overturn a Virginia State Bar admonition for failing to withdraw from representing a divorcing husband after the wife divulged confidential information to his law partner. The case highlights the risk of not having a database for easy conflict checks, even for a small law office.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Driver struck twice in rear-end collision at red light — $350,000 settlement
- Drunken driver strikes vehicle on interstate — $200,000 settlement
- Trip and fall on mat leads to knee replacement surgery — $1.5M verdict
- Woman suffers permanent injury in broadside crash — $2.325M settlement
- Teacher injured in accident during morning commute — $1.5M settlement
- Woodshop incident leads to amputation of fingers — $1.3M settlement
- Motorcyclist’s foot amputated in collision — $7M settlement
- Contractor rear-ended on interstate on way to wedding — $825,000 settlement
- Man suffers back injury in crash with out-of-state driver — $530,000 settlement
- Driver crossed center line, struck 89-year-old’s vehicle — $1.2M settlement
- Jury returns defense verdict in favor of gastroenterologist
- Teens killed in T-bone collision with officer — $3.1M settlement
Opinion Digests
- Court silent on if ALJs were constitutionally appointed
- Homeowner’s lawsuit barred by res judicata
- Uncertainty over service prevents default judgment
- No stay of case pending resolution of motion
- Man’s unlawful search, seizure claims dismissed
- Amazon shows patent claim is ineligible abstract idea
- Geographical separation dooms trademark claim
- ‘Narcotics trafficker’ defense rejected
- Litigant’s suit against courts, judges dismissed
- Body cam footage properly admitted
- Motion to withdraw pleas properly denied
- Evidence supports murder, conspiracy conviction
