QUESTION: I would like to know why you think dispersing an unruly crowd with non-lethal means is a civil rights offense? ANSWER: First let me thank you for asking the question that many may have been afraid to ask. Increasingly we are finding an intolerance to opinions and views from all political […]
June 16, 2020 – Class Action suit filed against Richmond Police Department Officers for violations of citizens 1st Amendment Right to peacefully protest and petition the government and for 4th Amendment Right against excessive use of force arising from the actions of the RPD on Monday June 1, 2020. Since the City of […]
TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS Another litigation and appellate victory! On May 14, 2020, the Virginia Supreme Court rejected the attempt to drag mental health professionals and guardian ad litems into court for their role in custody and visitation cases by disappointed, angry, frustrated or vindictive parents on claims of “tortious interference with parental […]
Worker’s Compensation Windfall and Legal Malpractice Pitfall Whenever a Prosthetic Device is Used in Treatment. Until the Virginia legislature acts, employees get a windfall under the current Worker’s Compensation law in Virginia – they get the benefit of medical treatment but if a prosthetic device is used the employer does not get any credit […]
Does Virginia have “Whistle-Blower” protection? Yes. An employee of Virginia state or local governments have protection against retaliation or discipline for making or being about to report on the wrongdoing or abuse of one of the employee’s supervisors or an agent of the employer or an appropriate authority under Virginia Code § 2.2-3009, et seq., […]
If an insurance company intentionally disregards the financial interests of their insured and fails to settle a claim within the policy limits resulting in a judgment exceeding those policy limits then it may be liable for the excess judgment under Virginia law. Given the risks, complexities and costs of litigation, it may be appropriate […]
So, the police have searched your home but didn’t give you a copy of the warrant, the affidavit upon which the search warrant was issued or even a copy of the return – how do you get a copy of the search warrant in Virginia? The law surrounding search warrants includes the 4th Amendment […]
Are attorneys’ fees paid from a settlement included in the gross income to the plaintiff – are they “above-the-line deduction”, merely listed as itemized deductions, “below-the-line deduction” where they may be disregarded in an alternative minimum tax analysis, or not deductible at all? The tax answers depend upon the nature of the legal fees. […]
2-5-2020 – The law firm of Thomas H. Roberts & Associates, PC. achieved another victory for the First Amendment with a federal opinion establishing that a law enforcement officer cannot lawfully retaliate against a citizen for criticisms and Facebook posts by attempting to induce another officer to issue a traffic citation. In a decision […]
1 (Photo by Cary Drane – 2020 Lobby Day in Virginia – (c) 2020 – Cary Drane) Unfortunately, it is our opinion that the current attempt to enjoin Governor Northam’s unconstitutional restraint of 1st Amendment speech and the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms will fail because Gun Owners of America, Inc. and the other plaintiffs […]