Pirates and the Rule of Law: Mandatory Life Sentences
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a piracy-related opinion on August 13, 2015. The decision in United...
Virginia Appellate Rule Changes Effective July 1, 2015– What’s Now Different?
The first of July each year normally represents the “effective date” of the General Assembly’s newly enacted laws. This year, that date...
Coal Mine Voids: The Pitched Battle for Ownership of Virginia's Deep, Dark Depths
On April 16, 2015, the Virginia Supreme Court exercised its power under the Virginia Constitution, and its own Rule 5:40(a), to answer...
Common Sense Limitations on Sanctions Awards Under VA. Code §8.01-271.1
On February 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of Virginia issued a unanimous decision that discussed, and set boundaries upon, sanctions awards...
The Perilous Relationship Between Civil Filing Fees and the Expiration of a Statutory Limitations Pe
A recent unpublished order of the Supreme Court of Virginia explored the relationship between payment of required civil filing fees and...
Appeal Bond for Former-Governor Bob McDonnell: Why All the Controversy?
In the aftermath of his conviction and sentencing in U.S. District Court, Virginia’s former-Governor Bob McDonnell filed a motion for...
PUNITIVE DAMAGES: A PROPER DETERRENT TO DRUNK DRIVERS
Coalson v. Canchola, 287 Va. 242, 754 S.E.2d 525 (2014) In Coalson, the Virginia Supreme Court reversed a trial court’s remittitur of a...
TORT LAW PROTECTIONS FOR RETURNING VETERANS
Metzgar v. KBR, Inc., 744 F.3d 326 (4th Cir. 2014) In KBR, the Fourth Circuit explored an emerging area of tort law. The case arose...
COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS: THE COMBINED MISDEMEANOR TRIAL AND FELONY PRELIMINARY H
Davis v. Commonwealth, 63 Va. App. 45, 754 S.E.2d 533, aff’d en banc, 64 Va. App. 70, 764 S.E.2d 724 (2014) Often, when a district court...
TRIAL ATTORNEYS AND APPELLATE ATTORNEYS: A BREED APART
Good trial attorneys spend years developing considerable professional expertise in their courtroom practices. They hone their skills to...