Verdict . News

Nov 26, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court dismissed immunity appeal due to lack of formal circuit court order denying immunity plea

Virginia Supreme Court Dismisses Immunity Appeal for Procedural Deficiency

The Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed a petition for review in Knudsen v. Taylor, ruling it lacked jurisdiction because the circuit court never formally denied the petitioner's sovereign immunity plea. The court emphasized strict adherence to procedural requirements under Virginia's 2023 immunity appeal statute.

•2023 Virginia Code § 8.01-670.2 requires explicit court order before immunity appeals become eligible for review

Nov 6, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court affirmed dissolution of multi-generational family farm LLC spanning 900+ acres

Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Family Farm Dissolution in Sibling Dispute

The Virginia Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court decision ordering the dissolution of Ticonderoga Farms, a family-owned agritourism business spanning over 900 acres in Northern Virginia. The ruling came after a legal dispute between majority member Peter J. Knop and his siblings Alexandra and William.

•Majority member Peter J. Knop failed to expel minority siblings from the business

Oct 16, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court unanimously affirmed disbarment of attorney Bradley Glenn Pollack for professional conduct violations

Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Attorney Disbarment for Ethics Violations

The Virginia Supreme Court upheld the disbarment of Bradley Glenn Pollack, a Woodstock attorney who violated multiple professional conduct rules while representing client Kathleen Kearney. The court affirmed findings that Pollack violated rules governing candor toward tribunals and truthfulness in statements.

•Pollack violated multiple rules including duties of candor toward tribunals and truthfulness in statements to others

Oct 16, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court unanimously rejected immunity defense by Suffolk school board officials

Virginia Supreme Court Rejects School Board Officials' Immunity Claims

The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously rejected immunity claims by Suffolk City School Board officials in a defamation lawsuit filed by educator Deborah Wahlstrom. The court affirmed a lower court's decision allowing defamation claims to proceed against school board member Judith Brooks-Buck and official Tyron Riddick.

•Case stems from 2021 incident where educator was escorted from school board meeting

Sep 25, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court reversed contempt conviction for witness who allegedly testified while intoxicated

Virginia Supreme Court Reverses Contempt Conviction for Intoxicated Witness

The Virginia Supreme Court reversed a contempt of court conviction against Katie Orndoff, who was sentenced to 10 days in jail for allegedly being intoxicated while testifying as a Commonwealth witness. The court found insufficient evidence to support the summary criminal contempt conviction under Virginia Code § 18.2-456.

•Katie Orndoff was sentenced to 10 days in jail by Loudoun County Circuit Court for 'misbehavior in the presence of the court'

Sep 11, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals ruling that vacated drug conviction

Virginia Supreme Court Reinstates Drug Conviction After Appeals Reversal

The Virginia Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision that had vacated a drug conviction, reinstating Shanta Orlando Hubbard's conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine after disagreeing with the appellate court's suppression ruling.

•Case involved disputed motion to suppress evidence in cocaine distribution case

Jul 31, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court affirmed discipline against attorney who kept $600 in consultation fees for meetings that never occurred

Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Attorney Discipline for Consultation Fees

The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed disciplinary action against attorney Jason Eugene Swango for violating professional conduct rules by refusing to refund $300 consultation fees from two clients whose meetings never occurred. The court found Swango's characterization of the fees as 'non-refundable' violated ethics rules.

•Court ruled that labeling fees as 'non-refundable' does not exempt attorneys from professional conduct rules requiring reasonable fees

Jul 17, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court affirmed SCC's denial of toll increase for Dulles Greenway operator

Virginia Supreme Court Upholds SCC Denial of Toll Road Rate Increase

The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the State Corporation Commission's decision to deny a toll increase request from Toll Road Investors Partnership II, operator of the Dulles Greenway in Loudoun County. The court rejected the company's constitutional takings challenge to the rate denial.

•Court rejected constitutional takings challenge claiming rate denial violated property rights

Jun 12, 2025•4 min read

•Virginia Supreme Court unanimously reversed Court of Appeals ruling on extrinsic evidence for illegible contracts

Virginia Supreme Court Reverses Appeals Court on Contract Evidence

The Virginia Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision regarding the admissibility of extrinsic evidence to prove the contents of an illegible liability-release contract. The high court found that the appeals court misstated the burden of proof and applied incorrect review standards in a case arising from a 2016 rental car accident.

•Case arose from 2016 Enterprise rental car accident where settlement discussions involved disputed release contract