Weekly Edition
A trip to the beach: Reports from the Virginia State Bar Annual Meeting
By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
June 29, 2009
The Virginia State Bar’s Annual Meeting in Virginia Beach June 18-20 was quite eventful. In this week’s edition, you’ll find coverage of:
• The VSB Council’s vote establishing a Diversity Conference.
• A perspective piece on the council confab from a new council member who’ll take his seat next week.
• A story on the attorney general debate between Sen. Ken […]
Diversity Conference is approved by the VSB
By Alan Cooper
June 29, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH – The Virginia State Bar Council has approved the creation of a Diversity Conference but stopped short of giving it the full status enjoyed by the bar’s other three conferences.
Creation of the Diversity Conference, the key initiative of outgoing VSB President Manuel A. Capsalis of Arlington, and related issues dominated the agenda at […]
Huddleston: Publicize ‘good works’ of lawyers on YouTube
By Alan Cooper
June 29, 2009
Jon D. Huddleston, the new president of the Virginia State Bar, chafes at lawyer jokes.
“My experience has been that it’s the lawyers who are involved in the community,” the ones who deliver fruit baskets at Christmas, wield hammers and serve on boards of local Habitat for Humanity chapters, and coach the soccer, baseball and basketball […]
Contingency clause can’t transfer UIM obligation
By Peter Vieth
June 29, 2009
The insurance carrier for a truck-leasing company cannot use contingency language in its policy to escape its obligation to provide underinsured motorist coverage on its own truck, a Richmond federal magistrate judge has ruled.
The carrier sought to push the UIM obligation to the company that leased the vehicle.
The Supreme Court of Virginia has allowed […]
Cuccinelli, Shannon face off in AG debate
By Paul Fletcher
June 29, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH—Ken Cuccinelli and Steve Shannon share many similarities.
Both represent Northern Virginia in the General Assembly.
In fact, Cuccinelli’s Senate district overlaps Shannon’s House district in three precincts.
Both are making their first statewide run for office at a young age – Cuccinelli is 40, Shannon 38.
Both attended Gonzaga High School, overlapping there by one year.
Both are […]
Council to Assembly: Make UPL a felony
By Alan Cooper
June 29, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH—The Virginia State Bar Council will ask the General Assembly to make the unauthorized practice of law a felony if the misconduct results in economic harm.
Under the proposed legislation, UPL would become a Class 6 felony when someone practices law without a license, knowingly creates a false impression that he or she is licensed […]
Manage online presence for maximum benefit
By Deborah Elkins
June 29, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH – A lawyer logs in to an e-mail list for a bar group of which she is a member. Another member posts a hypothetical case that sounds awfully familiar.
Over several days, the lawyer watches opposing counsel in one of her cases try out different theories. The lurking lawyer warns others in her […]
An outsider sees the VSB Council in action for the first time
By David A. Oblon
June 29, 2009
On June 18, the Virginia State Bar Council simultaneously created a Diversity Conference – and discriminated against it. Really.
Currently there are three VSB “Conferences” – Young Lawyers, Senior Lawyers, and Local Bars. Unlike these Conferences, the new Diversity Conference will not enjoy a seat on the Executive Board or funding by the VSB. So, […]
Three receive VSB honors at Beach
By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
June 29, 2009
Holton recognized by Family Law Section
Virginia First Lady Anne B. Holton has received the 2009 Family Law Service Award presented by the Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section.
The award recognizes people and organizations that have improved family, domestic relations or juvenile law in the state. Holton, a former juvenile and domestic relations district judge in […]
Judge Marilynn Goss gets 2009 ‘Excellence’ award
By Alan Cooper
June 29, 2009
Volunteering to see legal aid clients in the evening while trying to start a law practice seemed like a good idea when Marilynn C. Goss finished law school and passed the bar exam in 1982.
Money soon became available to hire a night staff attorney, and Goss applied for the job and got it.
In a […]
IMPORTANT OPINIONS
- Traffic Offenses - Bifurcated Trial ‘Notice’ DNA in Traffic Court
- Tort - Telecom Company Can Sue for Business Conspiracy
- Tort - Government Not Liable for Stability Test
- Search & Seizure - Vague Affidavit Cannot Support Warrant
- Search & Seizure - Invalid Warrant - Affidavit Specificity
- Negligence - FELA - Wrongful Death - Release