Weekly Edition
Troubled Bridge Over Water
By Alan Cooper
September 15, 2008
The company that built a series of bridges and constructed the Clarksville bypass segment to widen U.S. 58 wanted to be paid $24 million for a cost overrun.
The Virginia Department of Transportation offered about $27 thousand.
The dispute was so complex it would have clogged the docket in Mecklenburg County. After a two-week trial in Norfolk, […]
Future of Fair Trial Project in jeopardy
By Alan Cooper
September 15, 2008
Critics railed for decades about the inadequacy of pay for attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants in Virginia.
But little happened until an organization was formed to hire a staff and develop a strategy to change public opinion and win additional money from the General Assembly.
That effort is in jeopardy because grants used to finance the […]
Downtown Diners and County-Seat Cafes
By Peter Vieth
September 15, 2008
First in an occasional series
There is one in almost every city and town in Virginia — a local lunch counter where lawyers congregate for a quick bite in the middle of the work day.
Often close to a courthouse, these downtown diners and county seat cafes become gathering spots for lawyers looking for a […]
Lawyers in the News
By Sarah Rodriguez
September 15, 2008
Troutman Sanders LLP has added three attorneys to the firm’s trusts & estates practice group in its Tysons Corner office.
Molly F. James joined the firm as a partner. She was previously a partner and head of the trusts and estates practice group of Hogan & Hartson.
James’ practice will focus on estate planning for clients, […]
Prosecutors: Ex-CIA official threatens to out agents, programs
By News in Brief
September 15, 2008
ALEXANDRIA—A former top CIA official accused of corruption and fraud is threatening to expose the identities of numerous agents and programs as part of his defense, prosecutors said.
In a court filing, prosecutors allege that former CIA executive director Kyle “Dusty’’ Foggo is trying to gum up the works of his trial, scheduled for November, […]
Crime panel mulls death for those who kill responder
By News in Brief
September 15, 2008
Members of the Virginia State Crime Commission will decide by December whether to support legislation expanding capital punishment to those who kill a firefighter or emergency responder while performing their duties.
Since 1976, Virginia has expanded its capital murder laws to include 15 circumstances that could result in the death penalty, including murder in the […]
Prince William arrests of illegal immigrants nearly tripled in May
By News in Brief
September 15, 2008
MANASSAS—Prince William County Police Chief Charlie Deane says the monthly total of suspected illegal immigrants arrested in the county has nearly tripled since May. The number of those later released without charges also rose sharply.
Deane reported Tuesday that 75 illegal immigrants were arrested in August and 59 were released.
Since the county’s crackdown on […]
JLARC: Charge trash haulers to dump waste
By News in Brief
September 15, 2008
Charging trash haulers higher fees for dumping waste in Virginia landfills could improve state and local recycling programs, according to a General Assembly study.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission report says a state surcharge of both in-state and out-of-state trash of 25 cents to $1 per ton could generate $3.9 million to $15.8 […]
Lawmakers get only middling grades
By News in Brief
September 15, 2008
No Virginia lawmaker got better than a middling grade in a pro-business legislative monitor’s 2008 report card because the General Assembly failed to enact new transportation funding this year.
Virginia FREE deducted 20 percent off the top of every legislator’s 2008 business rating, reflecting the nonprofit group’s disdain at a failed early-summer special session for […]
UR law prof gets Fulbright to teach in Beijing
By News in Brief
September 15, 2008
Joel B. Eisen, a professor at the University of Richmond law school, has received a Fulbright scholarship to teach at the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) in Beijing, China, in the spring 2009 semester.
CUPL, one of China’s most prestigious law schools, was established in 1952 when the Chinese government combined the law […]
NEWS FROM VIRGINIA LAWYERS WEEKLY
- Lobbyist Vicki Iseman files $27M suit against New York Times
- Costly Mold: Loudoun couple awarded $4.75M for mold injuries
- Nine seek a seat on Appeals Court
- Customer wins $1M in suit against Web developer
- I, the Juror: A very, very short tour of (jury) duty
- Dueling Web sites: Surnames the same, domain names… only an “L” apart
IMPORTANT OPINIONS
- Real Estate - Foreclosure - Power Of Attorney
- Contract - Accounting Firm Purchase - Due Diligence
- Criminal - Sentence Reduction - Cocaine Amendment - Plea Bargain
- Negligence - Auto Accident - Collateral Source Rule
- Domestic Relations - Child Support - DCSE Petition - Nonsuit
- Real Estate - Episcopal Church Property - Breakaway Congregations