Weekly Edition
Train in vain
By Deborah Elkins
August 4, 2008
Here’s a nightmare that would haunt any lawyer. But for a West Coast law firm, it was a scenario that was all too real. A courier, entrusted with a document that had to get there in time, fell asleep on a train, misplaced the document, went into a panic and failed to tell the firm […]
Med-mal cap fight on horizon for 2009
By Peter Vieth
August 4, 2008
Familiar battle lines between plaintiffs’ lawyers and doctors will be forming soon over a possible increase in Virginia’s $2 million cap on damages in medical malpractice cases.
The arena has been quiet for nine years as the malpractice cap advanced in steps from $1.5 million. As part of the legislative deal that resulted in stairstep […]
Judge sets aside $310K verdict
By Alan Cooper
August 4, 2008
A Prince William County judge has set aside a $310,000 jury award for a couple who won a finding of constructive fraud by the contractor who installed a barrier exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) on their home.
The action by Judge William D. Hamblen occurred after the deadline for an article on the case in […]
Shannon running for Democrats’ AG nod
By Peter Vieth
August 4, 2008
A five-year veteran of the Virginia House of Delegates with experience as a prosecutor is campaigning for the 2009 Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general, bringing to four the number of contenders for the position.
Del. Steve Shannon, D-Fairfax, is the only candidate who has surfaced as a possible Democratic contender in the race where three […]
Proposals to harmonize rules floated by panel
By Alan Cooper
August 4, 2008
Differences in the rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Virginia Court of Appeals have tripped up many otherwise competent attorneys.
One difference has been especially troubling. The court of appeals rules require that a petition for appeal contain “questions presented” but say nothing about “assignments of error.” Supreme Court rules say nothing about […]
VSB diversity panel wants to boost lawyer involvement
By Alan Cooper
August 4, 2008
The Virginia State Bar’s task force on diversity will focus on attracting more minorities to the profession and on encouraging more minorities to participate in bar activities once they become members of it.
To that end, Joseph A. Condo, the McLean attorney and former VSB president who chairs the 15-member task force, appointed committees at the […]
Young Lawyers Conference does better with minorities
By Alan Cooper
August 4, 2008
The Virginia State Bar’s young lawyers group does much better in terms of minority participation than the bar itself.
Several members of the VSB Diversity Task force made that observation at the panel’s July 28 meeting. Minority involvement is relatively strong in the VSB’s Young Lawyers Conference, which generally covers attorneys age 36 and younger, but […]
Obituaries
By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
August 4, 2008
W. Joe Hoppe
W. Joe Hoppe, a longtime senior assistant city attorney in Richmond died July 26 of cancer. He was 62.
A graduate of the University of Virginia and its law school, Mr. Hoppe earned three varsity letters as a tight end, the last of them while attending law school.
He clerked for Supreme Court of Virginia […]
Lawyers in the News
By Sarah Rodriguez
August 4, 2008
W. Reilly Marchant of Marchant, Honey & Baldwin LLP became the Richmond Bar Association’s 124th president on June 1. Marchant earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in 1975 and received his law degree from the University of Richmond in 1979. His practice focuses on employment law, general civil litigation, family law and commercial and […]
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