Lawyer news

• Local option: Face masks not required in all Virginia courts 

  25-05-2020 13:57
  
  As Virginia courthouses reopen, jurisdictions disagree on whether or not face masks will be required upon entry. The Supreme Court of Virginia issued guidance stating that court officials are expected to take “reasonable steps” to protect public health as local courts tackle a backlog of more than 673,000 cases since closing due to COVID-19 on ...
  
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• Courts ease back into operation 

  25-05-2020 13:56
  
  Taking things a step at a time, Virginia trial courts have again opened their doors to in-person hearings for non-emergency matters, to generally good reviews by lawyers around the state. Courthouse halls were quiet as files continued to pile up in clerks’ offices, but judges managed to deliberately move selected cases through their courtrooms in ...
  
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• Judge approves fee award in franchise fight 

  25-05-2020 13:55
  
  An Alexandria federal judge has approved a nearly $129,000 fee award in a battle over franchise rights for a Herndon doctor and his urgent care clinic. The fee ruling came after the doctor lost his legal team following a failed court-mediated settlement conference last year. Four attorneys withdrew and the remaining lawyer later was suspended ...
  
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• Court says prosecutor has exposure to defamation claim 

  25-05-2020 13:52
  
  A newly elected commonwealth’s attorney who allegedly maligned a former staffer at a public gathering does not have prosecutorial immunity to the staffer’s defamation claim, the Supreme Court of Virginia decided this month. The justices’ ruling revives a lawsuit against former Dickenson County Commonwealth’s Attorney C. Seth Baker. The trial judge incorrectly applied a federal ...
  
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• Phase 1: No job search needed for unemployment 

  25-05-2020 13:50
  
  Virginia began reopening nonessential businesses in most parts of the state May 15, with Richmond, Northern Virginia and Accomack County excluded for at least two weeks. Though employers are preparing to rehire fired or furloughed workers, the nearly 400,000 Virginians receiving unemployment benefits will not be required to search for jobs to continue receiving weekly ...
  
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