Weekly Edition
CLOSED for business
By Peter Vieth
July 21, 2008
Facing a staff shortage and without funds for new hiring, the Fredericksburg Circuit Court Clerk has decided to close the clerk’s office to the public two afternoons a week to catch up on paperwork.
Clerk Sharron S. Mitchell is closing the doors to her office at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. During those […]
Client had oral contract, lawsuit was filed too late
By Deborah Elkins
July 21, 2008
Lawyers like retainer agreements because they offer protection when things go wrong with a client.
But having no written agreement meant one former Virginia lawyer caught a break when a client sued for legal malpractice. The lawyer sought shelter in the shorter statute of limitations that applies to oral contracts under Virginia law.
An Alexandria federal district […]
Prosecutors on the spot
By Alan Cooper
July 21, 2008
Prosecutors have extraordinarily broad discretion in criminal cases but none at all under Virginia Code § 58.1-3003. That law requires a commonwealth’s attorney to appeal “an order for the imposition of taxes” by a local governing body if he receives a petition signed by one percent of the voters in a locality.
The statute has been […]
Gloucester political brouhaha prompts five indictments
By Peter Vieth
July 21, 2008
Public outcry over a heavy-handed political turnover in a suburban Tidewater county led this month to a strongly worded special grand jury report and the misdemeanor indictments of five public officials.
Now, as the Gloucester County commonwealth’s attorney prepares for criminal trials of fellow elected officials, citizens are circulating petitions to recall four members of the […]
Lawyers in the News
By Sarah Rodriguez
July 21, 2008
Ted G. Yoakam has become a shareholder in the Virginia Beach law firm of McKenry, Dancigers, Dawson & Lake PC. Yoakam will manage the medical malpractice section of the firm and continue his civil litigation and appellate practice in both federal and state courts.
He earned his undergraduate degree at Saint Vincent College in 1983 and […]
How to manage the tsunami of spam
By Bruce Dorner
July 21, 2008
Does your work day begin with a thousand taps of the “Delete” key to remove the flood of spam that invades your inbox? Are you getting worn down trying to sort the important e-mails from the torrent of junk? Are you ready to delegate e-mail triage to a staff person? Then let’s see what we […]
U.S. Labor investigation results in back wages for motel workers
By News in Brief
July 21, 2008
WYTHEVILLE—The owner of a Ramada Inn Wytheville has agreed to pay $23,000 in back wages to workers following a federal investigation.
The U.S. Department of Labor says its investigators found overtime and record keeping violations at the motel operated by Marjan Corp.
Violations included failing to reimburse servers who were paid $2.13 an hour […]
Gubernatorial, senate candidates report cash, campaign contributions
By News in Brief
July 21, 2008
Two Democrats and a Republican running for governor in 2009 have substantial early cash reserves in girding for an expensive race.
All three filed reports last week with the State Board of Elections.
The Republican, Attorney General Bob McDonnell, finished the first half of 2008 with the most money on hand, nearly $1.2 million.
His […]
Man charged in I-64 shootings pleads guilty to felonies
By News in Brief
July 21, 2008
WAYNESBORO—A man charged in a series of shootings along Interstate 64 has pleaded guilty to six felony counts in Waynesboro.
Slade Allen Woodson apologized Monday during a brief appearance in Waynesboro Circuit Court. The 19-year-old Woodson pleaded guilty to two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle, three counts of maliciously shooting from a vehicle and […]
Motorcycle-related deaths on rise; officials respond
By News in Brief
July 21, 2008
With the number of motorcycle-related deaths sharply on the rise, Virginia officials are looking to improve safety.
The state launched a program last week called Motorcycle 411 at its motorcycle training range in Richmond.
The event coincided with national Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day.
D.B. Smit, the governor’s highway safety representative, discussed how the […]
IMPORTANT OPINIONS
- Negligence - Premises Liability – Third-Party Assault – Social Guest
- Intellectual Property - Drug Application - ANDA - Injunction
- Tort - FTCA – Prison Inmate – Multiple Attacks
- Search & Seizure - Consensual Encounter - Man In Parked Car - Drugs In Bag
- Civil Rights - Online Land Records - Privacy Right - SSNs
- Contract – Parking Lot Design – Economic Loss Rule