Weekly Edition
Blindsided: P.I. lawyers caught unaware of new Medicare rules, ‘set aside’ practices could be on the way
By Peter Vieth
December 1, 2008
Personal injury lawyers are bracing for more paperwork and possible delays in claim payments when the latest round of Medicare regulations kicks in next year.
A few observers are even warning that plaintiffs’ lawyers will have to develop “set aside” plans for future medical expenses to settle cases for Medicare recipients, although there is no explicit […]
Lawyer is sanctioned for ignoring res judicata
By Alan Cooper
December 1, 2008
A Fairfax County judge has sanctioned a Vienna lawyer for filing a lawsuit that he said the lawyer should have known would be barred by res judicata.
Judge Jonathan C. Thacher ordered Lawrence A. Katz to pay more than $25,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses to the defendant. Thacher ruled that an adequate investigation would […]
FDIC will back full amount of IOLTA accounts
By Alan Cooper
December 1, 2008
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will cover the full amount of lawyers’ IOLTA accounts, under new regulations adopted Nov. 21.
The regulations are part of the agency’s transaction account guarantee program, which in turn is part of its Temporary Liquidity Guarantee (TLG) program that is designed to enhance confidence in lenders through December 2009.
The original […]
Litigation over who missed deadline expands to four suits
By Alan Cooper
December 1, 2008
Litigation over a blown deadline in the appeal of an $8.3 million judgment has expanded to four lawsuits in state and federal court.
The focus of all the cases is whether Christopher C. Spencer and his former law firm, Bowman and Brooke LLP, or E. Duncan Getchell Jr. and his firm, McGuireWoods LLP, was responsible for […]
Downtown diners and courthouse cafes
By Peter Vieth
December 1, 2008
Preparing for an out-of-town hearing or trial should involve more than just legal research and argument outlines, according to traveling lawyers from around Virginia. Several attorneys we contacted said knowing the local perspective on dining could be crucial to your legal endeavors.
A few weeks back, this column discussed Southwest Virginia and its dining opportunities. This […]
Lawyers in the News
By Sarah Rodriguez
December 1, 2008
Two attorneys have joined the law firm of Sands, Anderson, Marks & Miller.
Tania M. L. Saylor has joined the business and professional litigation practice team in the firm’s McLean office. Saylor focuses her practice on commercial and tort litigation, and on professional liability including malpractice defense. She previously practiced with Wilson Elser […]
Caroline County opens I-95 visitors center
By News in Brief
December 1, 2008
BOWLING GREEN—Caroline County officials have opened a $2.6 million visitors center off Interstate 95.
Visitors who stop into the 7,000-square-foot building off Exit 104 will learn that the county is the birthplace of renowned racehorse Secretariat, the site of the discovery of a prehistoric whale skeleton and the place where presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth […]
Kaine to consider correction to Va. Tech shootings report
By News in Brief
December 1, 2008
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine says he will consider making corrections to the report issued by the panel that investigated the Virginia Tech mass shootings after meeting with victims and family members over the weekend.
Kaine said the private meetings made him realize how important it was to them for the report to be factually […]
V-DOT will study U.S. 29
By News in Brief
December 1, 2008
LYNCHBURG—Virginia transportation officials are planning a big-picture study of U.S. 29 from the North Carolina border to Gainesville.
Virginia Department of Transportation officials discussed the study last month with Lynchburg business and government officials. The study’s leader, Charles Rasnick, said the goals are to keep the road safe and preserve it as an economic lifeline […]
Wise County mine is fined $210K for accident
By News in Brief
December 1, 2008
ARLINGTON—The Mine Safety and Health Administration has fined a Wise County mine and a trucking company $210,000 in a July accident that permanently disabled a driver.
MSHA fined Bresee Trucking $165,000 and Guest Mountain Mining Corp. $45,000 for failing to properly train the driver and for faulty equipment on the truck. The companies can fight […]
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