Legal

This section highlights updates on Virginia laws, important court rulings, and consumer protection issues. We also analyze how state and local legal developments impact individuals and families. From new legislation to high-profile cases, our goal is to keep readers aware of how the legal system shapes life across Virginia.

Florida Lawyer Brings Class Action Against UnitedHealthcare

Attorney Joe Saunders, of Pinellas County, filed a class action suit against UnitedHealthcare yesterday. The lawsuit accuses UnitedHealthcare of Florida of misrepresentation and fraudulently marketing some of their health care plans. According to the lawsuit, the defendants, UnitedHealth Group and U

By The Legal Examiner

/ 25 Jul 2007

Fairfax, Virginia (VA) Man Paralyzed for Life in Accident

According to a published article in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly, on December 27, 2005 at 3:45 am, Jerome Stewart of Fairfax County, Virginia (VA) was in an accident that left him a quadriplegic. A garbage truck, owned by Potomac Disposal Services of Virginia LLC, collided with Stewart’s 1990 Jeep Ch

By Richard Shapiro

/ 11 Jul 2007

Railroad FELA Verdict in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA)

In August of 2003, John Wilson, a former conductor for The Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad, was injured when a fence pole hit his shoulder while he was on the side of a train car. Wilson, a United Transportation Union local chairman, filed a FELA claim against the railroad company he worke

By Richard Shapiro

/ 10 Jul 2007

Virginia (VA) Woman Suffers Brain Injury Caused by Teenagers in Automobile Collision

According to an article in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly, a nurse from Falls Church, Virginia (VA), named Molly Raymond, suffered mild brain injury after being hit by two cars, both driven by teenagers. Because of the brain injury, she has no longer been able to work or continue her regular activities

By Richard Shapiro

/ 6 Jul 2007

Nursing Home Abuse Becomes an Ever Growing Problem

According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, by the year 2030, 8.9 million people will be 85 or older. This is double the amount of elderly today. With this rise in population many will head to nursing homes for special care. However, a nursing shortage is sure to come with such an ov

By Richard Shapiro

/ 5 Jul 2007

Diving Injury Paraplegic Awarded 16 Million

An 18 year old young man from Kansas dove from the dock into a lake in 2005 and came out without being able to walk again. The water where he dove was less than 4 feet deep, but was not properly marked. A jury in 2007 held the corporation that owned the lake responsible for this injury and awarded 2

By Richard Shapiro

/ 3 Jul 2007

Negligence by truckers a major cause of large truck crashes, according to new study

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a report to Congress in 2006 about the reasons for tractor trailer wrecks. In those cases where the action or inaction of the driver commercial truck is the cause of the collision, driving too fast for conditi

By Richard Shapiro

/ 28 Jun 2007

Seatbelts Reduce Death and Serious Injury in Car Crashes

In May, 2007, another annual click it or ticket campaign occurred. The Virginia click it or ticket program is trying to improve statewide safety belt compliance which is currently 78.6%. The goal for Virginia (VA) is to get the rate of people wearing their seatbelts up to 82%. North Carolina (NC) ha

By Richard Shapiro

/ 27 Jun 2007

How to Win a Slip and Fall Case in Virginia (VA)

A personal injury lawsuit in Virginia (VA) has two parts: liability and damages. Damages are the result of the bodily injury to the person who is hurt, such as a broken bone and the lost wages and…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 26 Jun 2007

Surprising numbers in medical malpractice claims

As a personal injury lawyer at a law firm which handles plaintiff’s side, medical malpractice cases, I find the following reported numbers startling: 1. The majority of medical malpractice claims close without payment to the injured person.2. Only 2% of medical malpractice victims make a claim.3. 80

By Richard Shapiro

/ 25 Jun 2007

Head restraint systems in some minivans perform poorly

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently looked at 6 different minivans and found that those in the Ford 2006 Nissan Quest, the 2005-2006 Toyota Siena and the 2004-2006 Mazda MPV among others failed to give efficient head support in the event of a whip lash injury. The test measured the e

By Richard Shapiro

/ 22 Jun 2007

Jury Selection Key to Success in Serious Personal Injury Cases

Before any serious personal injury case, whether it be an automobile personal injury case, a medical negligence personal injury case, or a products liability personal injury case, a process occurs…

By Jim Lewis

/ 21 Jun 2007