Weekly Edition
An electronic ‘leash’
By Peter Vieth
May 26, 2008
A case involving a convicted embezzler could resolve whether a sentencing judge has any say about the early release of a state inmate for home electronic monitoring.
Judith Brumfield of Gretna was convicted in 2006 of stealing from her employer, a local contractor. Sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to repay $80,000, she asked […]
Richmond judges prep for changes
By Alan Cooper
May 26, 2008
Richmond Circuit Court was unique in two respects.
It operated out of two courthouses, and seven of the eight judges typically heard only civil or criminal cases.
The first distinction ended last year, when all circuit court operations in the Manchester Courthouse in South Richmond moved to the John Marshall Courts Building at Eighth and Marshall streets.
On […]
‘Wrongful birth’ cases are before high court
By Peter Vieth
May 26, 2008
The Supreme Court of Virginia apparently will have the final say on a Fairfax County couple’s claims against two obstetricians based on the birth of twins with Down syndrome. The court’s decisions could provide guidance for medical malpractice lawyers on several critical points, including whether a father can be a patient of an obstetrician.
The couple […]
Introducing the Business Law Bulletin of Virginia
By Paul Fletcher
May 26, 2008
Virginia Lawyers Media began publication of its third title in late April: The Business Law Bulletin joined Virginia Lawyers Weekly and the Virginia Medical Law Report in our company’s product lines.
The BLB is a bi-monthly newspaper that provides the latest legal news for the leaders and owners of businesses across the commonwealth.
Its purpose […]
Agee confirmed, Kaine seeks input for successor
By Alan Cooper
May 26, 2008
The U.S. Senate last week unanimously confirmed Virginia Supreme Court Justice G. Steven Agee to fill a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
President Bush nominated Agee in March to fill one of five vacancies on the 15-seat court.
“Justice Agee is a man of integrity who is respected for his sound legal […]
Colorful case … defendant guilty
By Alan Cooper
May 26, 2008
“Barney deals.” “Rednecking.” Re-programming the dates on fax machines. Deleting e-mails. Slipping altered documents to an attorney during trial.
As recounted by U.S. District Judge Walter D. Kelley Jr., those are some of the colorful details in the effort of Charles E. Johnson Jr. to “make the numbers” and save PurchasePro.Com, the Internet-based company that met […]
Lawyer referral trims procedures, seeks lawyers
By Deborah Elkins
May 26, 2008
It takes two lawyers to make a go of practice in a small town, so clients can sue each other.
In some parts of Virginia, the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service would be happy to get just one lawyer signed up for its service.
The referral service, operated as a nonprofit, public service project of the Virginia State […]
E-mail disclaimers aren’t always what they seem
By Peter S. Vogel
May 26, 2008
E-mail disclaimers do not always work. If your legal department uses a confidential or attorney-client privilege disclaimer on every e-mail, you run the risk of actually waiving those specific claims.
When facsimile transmissions were first used in the early 1980s, lawyers concluded they needed protection for the inadvertent fax sent to opposing counsel, rather than […]
Task force will use funds for more investigators
By News in Brief
May 26, 2008
BEDFORD—A Bedford County-based task force formed to track online sexual predators will use $750,000 in state funds to double its investigators.
The Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will increase its investigators to six.
Founder and Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown also wants to increase the number of affiliate agencies from 58 to […]
Virginia rates highly on driving-while-texting
By News in Brief
May 26, 2008
NORFOLK — If you’re annoyed by motorists who chat on cell phones, then get ready to be more frustrated: A new survey ranks Vir-ginia sixth in the nation for drivers who send text messages behind the wheel.
The online survey of 4,820 people was commissioned by Vlingo, a Cambridge, Mass. company that markets voice-recognition […]
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