Virginia

Report: Appeals judge holds intoxicated home intruder at gunpoint until police arrive

An intoxicated man wearing one shoe was arrested early Wednesday after being held at gunpoint in the Fredericksburg home of a senior Virginia appeals court judge, police said. Judge James W. Haley Jr. of the Virginia Court of Appeals confirmed that the incident occurred at his home but declined to…

Apr 2, 2015 11:45 AM CDT

Stop efforts to close Sweet Briar, lawsuits by county attorney and alumna urge Virginia court

Echoing arguments made by unhappy alumnae about the planned closing of Sweet Briar College, the county attorney for Amherst County, Virginia, has filed suit seeking a court order to reconfigure its leadership. Filed Monday, the suit seeks an injunction, putting what amounts to a receiver in charge, and asking the…

Mar 31, 2015 1:55 PM CDT

Negative reviews of dog obedience school on Yelp, Angie’s List lead to defamation lawsuit

The owner of a Virginia dog obedience school has filed a $65,000 defamation lawsuit against a former customer for posting negative reviews of her business on Yelp and Angie’s List. Colleen Dermott, the owner of Dog Tranquility in Burke, Virginia, says the comments were false and damaged her business, which…

Mar 26, 2015 1:27 PM CDT

Police suspend investigation into rape claim described in Rolling Stone; magazine plans follow-up

Unable to find evidence that an alleged gang rape of a University of Virginia student reported by Rolling Stone magazine had occurred, Charlottesville police announced Monday that they are suspending, but not closing, their investigation. The student, identified only as “Jackie,” declined to cooperate with the investigation and a lawyer…

Mar 24, 2015 1:32 PM CDT

Grads call for Sweet Briar leaders to resign, citing fiduciary duties and claimed charity-law issue

Graduates of a 114-year-old Virginia women’s college rallying to save their school after a surprise announcement earlier this month that it will close have targeted the board of directors. A Monday letter written by Troutman Sanders calls for the resignation of the president and board of trustees of Sweet Briar…

Mar 23, 2015 4:00 PM CDT

Controversial arrest captured on video of UVA student follows an earlier case

A video of a bloodied and beaten University of Virginia honors student being arrested for public intoxication and obstruction sparked renewed outrage and protests of excessive force at the hands of police. The latest incident, which happened at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday during St. Patrick’s Day celebrating, follows an earlier case…

Mar 19, 2015 4:15 PM CDT

Deaf man took plea in theft case over iPad that wasn’t stolen, due to lack of communication

A homeless deaf man, who was arrested last year at a Washington, D.C., area airport where he was trying to sleep, spent six weeks in jail in Virginia and eventually took a plea in a case over a stolen iPad, due to a lack of communication. The iPad at issue,…

Mar 19, 2015 11:00 AM CDT

Lawyer not liable in slaying of PI killed while trying to serve divorce papers, top state court says

A Virginia lawyer had no special duty to warn a private investigator he retained to serve divorce papers. Hence, the attorney is not liable in the Pi’s slaying, even though the attorney knew the target of the divorce was armed and had been told the target was “behaving strangely,” the…

Mar 10, 2015 4:00 PM CDT

Don’t fall for ‘major ongoing phishing scam,’ Virginia AG warns; it’s not from his office

Residents of Virginia are being targeted by scammers who are trying to trick them into turning over funds under threat of arrest, the commonwealth’s top law enforcement officer says. In a Monday consumer alert commonwealth Attorney General Mark Herring warns residents to beware and says his office would never attempt…

Mar 9, 2015 1:10 PM CDT

Sweet Briar grads retain Troutman Sanders, launch crowdfunding campaign to save school

Loyal alumnae of a venerable Virginia women’s college are rallying to save their school following a stunning announcement by its board of directors this week that Sweet Briar College would be closing. One group has retained Troutman Sanders and a crowdfunding site has been launched with a $20 million goal,…

Mar 6, 2015 3:00 PM CST

LeClairRyan opens Atlanta office with 2 partners from Troutman Sanders

A rapidly growing law firm with longstanding roots in Richmond, Virginia, is expanding its footprint in the Southeast. LeClairRyan announced this week that it is opening an Atlanta office with two partners from Troutman Sanders. The 380-attorney LeClairRyan also recently opened offices in Sacramento, California, and Houston, Texas, notes the…

Feb 13, 2015 2:30 PM CST

Top state court nixes $2.5M personal injury suit because filing fee was $2 short

A lawsuit isn’t officially filed until the full filing fee is paid, Virginia’s top court has ruled. That means a $2.5 million personal injury suit a law firm tried to file a few days before the statute of limitations expired was correctly dismissed by Powhatan Circuit Court, because the filing…

Feb 10, 2015 3:10 PM CST

Losing litigant is charged in attack at Virginia law firm

A losing litigant is accused of storming into a Virginia law firm on Wednesday where he assaulted employees and kicked a dog. Kevin O’Hara, 46, of Amelia County, Virginia, is being held without bond in the incident at Owen & Owens in Midlothian, report WTVR and WRIC. He is charged…

Feb 6, 2015 7:16 AM CST

White-collar litigation trio leaps from Morgan Lewis to McGuireWoods

A trio of white-collar litigation partners, headed by a former top lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice, has exited Morgan Lewis & Bockius for McGuireWoods. Partner George Terwilliger III, who co-chaired the white-collar litigation and government investigation practice group at his now-former firm, will serve as the chief of…

Jan 29, 2015 12:10 PM CST

Virginia AG creates unit to advise cops on animal issues

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says he has created the nation’s first animal law unit in a state AG’s office. The new unit will consist of a small number of current staff attorneys who will spend part of their time serving as a resource for local law enforcement and state…

Jan 23, 2015 10:58 AM CST