Virginia

Deaf man who pleaded guilty to iPad theft that didn’t occur moves ahead in civil case

A homeless deaf man spent six weeks in prison last year before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft over an iPad that reportedly had not, in fact, been taken from its owner. Now Abreham Zemedagegehu is one step closer to exoneration. Although the Virginia criminal conviction still stands,…

Jun 26, 2015 4:00 PM CDT

Jury awards patient $500K due to doctor’s defamatory comments while he was sedated for colonoscopy

A Virginia jury last week awarded an unidentified patient $500,000, including $200,000 in punitive damages, because of defamatory comments made by his anesthesiologist while he was sedated for a colonoscopy. Intending to capture his doctor’s post-procedure instructions, the patient, referred to as D.B., had left his smartphone in record mode…

Jun 24, 2015 12:15 PM CDT

Settlement saves Sweet Briar; lawyer to be at college helm, along with new board members

A Virginia judge on Monday approved a settlement agreement intended to keep Sweet Briar College operational. With the help of over $12 million in promised donations from alumnae, the school will stay open at least one more year, the New York Times (reg. req.) reports. Thirteen of the 23 board…

Jun 22, 2015 4:10 PM CDT

4th Circuit revives $10M ‘Somebody to Love’ suit against Justin Bieber and Usher

Singing a different tune than a trial judge, a federal appeals court on Thursday unanimously voted to revive a $10 million copyright suit brought by two songwriters against Justin Bieber and Usher. Bieber and Usher recorded “Somebody to Love” both together and separately, selling millions of copies. Their song could…

Jun 19, 2015 2:25 PM CDT

Fatal attack on black Bible-study group resonates on 150th anniversary of ‘Juneteenth’

The slayings of nine people attending a Bible-study group at a historic African-American church this week cast a heavy shadow over the annual Juneteenth celebration of black empowerment and freedom from slavery. However, the shooting attack, described by law enforcement officials as a hate crime committed by a white man,…

Jun 19, 2015 12:55 PM CDT

Transgender teen files equal-protection suit over school’s restroom policy

A transgender teen in Virginia has sued his high school after he was banned from the boys’ restroom. The suit filed in federal court on behalf of 16-year-old Gavin Grimm claims the school’s decision to relegate him to separate, private restrooms is a violation of the equal protection clause and…

Jun 12, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

After courtroom clash over DUI manual, judge bars top prosecutor from cases against opposing lawyer

In the latest reverberations from a courtroom clash last week over the possession of a DUI manual, a Virginia judge has barred Caroline County’s top prosecutor and other lawyers in his office from appearing in cases in which Melissa Danjczek is defense counsel. Granting a motion filed by Danjczek, Circuit…

May 21, 2015 11:10 AM CDT

Dispute over DUI manual sparks courtroom clash between top prosecutor, defense lawyer

A dispute over who owns a DUI manual has sparked dueling allegations of criminal conduct and a courtroom clash between a Virginia prosecutor and defense lawyer. Tony Spencer, who works as Caroline County’s top prosecutor, says defense lawyer Melissa Danjczek took the manual when she was formerly employed by the…

May 19, 2015 10:45 AM CDT

Appeals judge who held home invader at gunpoint: ‘I almost shot him’

A senior judge with the Virginia Court of Appeals is still shaken about how close he came to killing a home invader April 1. Judge James W. Haley Jr. heard the front door of his Fredericksburg home open at about 4 a.m., and then someone started up the stairs. Then…

May 14, 2015 4:30 PM CDT

UVa official sues Rolling Stone, says she was ‘chief villain’ in retracted rape article

Saying that a now-discredited Rolling Stone article about a claimed 2012 gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity portrayed her as the “chief villain,” an associate dean has filed a defamation suit against the magazine. Plaintiff Nicole Eramo is asking for over $7.5 million in damages from the magazine,…

May 13, 2015 9:40 AM CDT

Managing partner: Lawyer asked about firm, Knights Templar before knife attack; wife played dead

The harrowing Nov. 9 attack began when a man claiming to be from the Virginia SEC forced his way into the home of a law firm managing partner and his wife, the victimized couple testified at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday for the two lawyers charged in the incident. Leo…

May 13, 2015 7:40 AM CDT

Woman sues Verizon Wireless, claims a customer service call led to her heart attack

A Virginia woman is suing her cellphone service provider over a customer service encounter that she claims caused her to have a heart attack. Angela Hawkins, a 53-year-old grandmother of four, sued Verizon Wireless on Wednesday in Chesapeake Circuit Court, the Virginian-Pilot reports. Hawkins, whose claims include negligence and intentional…

May 8, 2015 11:50 AM CDT

City’s ban on vehicle for-sale signs violates First Amendment, judge rules in lawyer’s $1 lawsuit

A lawyer has won a First Amendment victory in his suit challenging Alexandria, Virginia’s ban on for-sale signs on vehicles parked on city streets. U.S. District Judge James Cacheris of Alexandria ruled (PDF) on Tuesday that the law was an unconstitutional restriction on lawyer Scott McLean’s right to commercial speech,…

May 7, 2015 10:01 AM CDT

Excited delirium caused woman’s death in police custody, coroner finds; is it a ‘whitewash’ theory?

A controversial theory is being used to explain the death of a 130-pound woman after a 20-minute struggle with jailers in Fairfax County, Virginia, in which she endured four Taser shocks before she was subdued. Natasha McKenna, who was mentally ill, died in February from a rare syndrome known as…

May 7, 2015 7:26 AM CDT

Business can’t get access to identities of Yelp reviewers in Virginia suit, state high court says

The Virginia Supreme Court has thwarted a business owner’s attempt to force Yelp to turn over the names or seven people who posted negative reviews. The state supreme court ruled on Thursday that Virginia courts did not have the power to hold Yelp in contempt for failing to turn over…

Apr 17, 2015 7:35 AM CDT