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Defendant pulled out in front of truck going 45 mph – $725,000 Settlement
On Oct. 24, 2013, the defendant’s Ford F-150 pickup truck pulled from a stop sign directly in front of the 1985 Ford flatbed work truck that was traveling at a speed of 45 miles per hour. A box of bolts weighing 20 pounds rammed into plaintiff’s left elbow when the trucks collided. On impact the […]
Husband liable for $8M in wife’s snowstorm death
Despite a medical examiner’s initial conclusion that a Westmoreland County woman committed suicide, a jury this month decided the woman’s husband was complicit in her 2010 death and awarded the wife’s estate $8 million. The result in the unusual civil action came despite the fact that no criminal charges have ever been filed against restaurateur […]
Jury finds husband was liable for wife’s death – $8,000,000 Verdict
On Feb. 5, 2010, the decedent, Sally Rumsey, went “missing” from her country home in Westmoreland County. Her husband, Stephen Andersen, claimed he was in the woods walking the dogs when his wife disappeared. He said that they had argued earlier in the day and decided to take some time away from each other. Nobody […]
Prosecutor, policeman are cleared of rights violations
A law school graduate’s civil rights claims against a prosecutor and a police officer arising from an attempted murder charge have foundered in federal court. The former law student, Peter S. Willis of Fredericksburg, spent a year in jail before being acquitted of all charges arising from a domestic confrontation, but he was unable to […]
Charitable Immunity Bars Church Slip & Fall Claim
A woman who fell and was injured after she left a church where she attended the funeral of a friend cannot sue the church for negligence; the Westmoreland County Circuit Court says the church has charitable immunity from the suit as plaintiff was a beneficiary of its charitable purpose. Plaintiff contends that because she was […]
Woman who fell after funeral can’t sue church
A woman who fell and broke her leg as she was leaving a funeral reception cannot sue the church even though she was not a member of the church or the decedent’s family, under the ruling of a Westmoreland County circuit judge. Judge Harry T. Taliaferro III dismissed the injured woman’s lawsuit based on the […]
Malicious Prosecution Claim Goes to Trial
In this suit for malicious prosecution, a grand jury finding of probable cause does not insulate a defendant who allegedly was not “truthful” in her complaints to police from liability for malicious prosecution; a finding of probable cause by a magistrate or grand jury may be pertinent or even convincing, but it is not dispositive […]
Civil rights claim against prosecutor goes forward
A Richmond federal judge has refused to throw out allegations of misconduct against a Virginia prosecutor in a civil lawsuit filed by a man who claims he was arrested and jailed for almost a year based on false accusations supported by trumped-up evidence. Acquitted of attempted murder and other charges by a Westmoreland County jury […]
Closed Meeting Violated FOIA
Local officials violate Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act when they went into a closed meeting for discussion of a proposed contract with a counterterrorism training company that wants to build a training facility and academy in the county, a Westmoreland County Circuit Court says. After the meeting, a request was made of Robert Fink, county […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Driver fell asleep, causing significant auto accident — $1M settlement
- Defense verdict returned for company in rear-end crash
- Cauda equina syndrome developed after procedure — $625,000 settlement
- Passenger died months after sustaining multiple injuries — $725,000 settlement
- 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
Opinion Digests
- Petitions to expunge incorrectly denied
- Evidence supports controlled substance conviction
- No Fourth, Fifth Amendment violations in man’s case
- Father’s appointment as son’s guardian affirmed
- Evidence shows child was abused or neglected
- 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
