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.

Allstate's Dirty Hands Policy

A book is about to be published, over Allstate Insurance Company’s objections, entitled “From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves – How Allstate Changed Casualty Insurance in America.” This new book criticizing the insurance carrier is written by author David Berardinelli of New Mexico, who is a plaintiff’s

By Richard Shapiro

/ 6 Sep 2006

Med Pay – The Forgotten Insurance Coverage

Medical payments (“med pay” for short) coverage, an option on automobile insurance, is extremely important to getting a good result in a personal injury case arising out of a car crash.Many people forget about med pay. Because it is an optional coverage on your automobile insurance, people do not al

By Richard Shapiro

/ 5 Sep 2006

Upcoming Seminar Presentation on Medical Evidence at Trial

John M. Cooper has prepared written materials on the topic of powerful medical evidence presentation at trial to be used at a seminar for other lawyers in Norfolk, VA on October 26, 2006. I will also present live at the class to teach other lawyers about use of medical evidence as a continuing legal

By Richard Shapiro

/ 24 Aug 2006

Insurers Listen to Computer Not People

Many insurance companies, including Allstate, State Farm and Farmers, use a computer program to determine the value of injury claims. Some companies, such as Allstate, take the number that their computer program called Colossus spits out as the value of the claim giving no discretion to the claims r

By Richard Shapiro

/ 19 Aug 2006

Family awarded $1.5 million for missed melanoma

A Virginia Beach jury recently awarded a family $1.5 million for the death of a 51 year old caused by the failure to diagnose cancer.The cancer started as a raw spot on a finger. The doctors treated it as just an infection. Only with a second biopsy did the doctors figure out that this was a melanom

By Richard Shapiro

/ 18 Aug 2006

Its No "Accident"

Personal injury lawyers are trained to use words to persuade. One key word that comes up in personal injury litigation again and again is the word “accident.” People are very used to talking about automobile accidents or car accidents. The problem is that accident implies that it is nobody’s fault.

By Richard Shapiro

/ 17 Aug 2006

Auto Black Box Secrets-Is Your Car Spying On You?

The use of black box or event data recorder in late model cars is becoming a hot topic in criminal and civil litigation. More police are using black boxes to help solve traffic crimes. In Virginia, police officers are routinely downloading this information, when necessary to help figure out what hap

By Richard Shapiro

/ 16 Aug 2006