Articles

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones spoke to the Virginia Bar Association’s White Collar Forum in Richmond last week, where he discussed his Administration’s approach to white collar and consumer-protection enforcement. Attorney General Jones emphasized the importance of achieving practical results that protect Virginia consumers, including through civil enforcement rather than relying exclusively on criminal prosecution. He also specifically highlighted the protection of Virginians’ privacy and personal information, highlighting enforcement of the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (“VCDPA”) and related privacy and cybersecurity requirements as an important consumer-protection priority. For Virginia businesses, the message is significant. White Collar enforcement has long […]

Article by Matt W. Broughton and Investigator Danny C. Brabham In September of 2025, an article was published here relating to how a person could strengthen their personal injury case through the use of Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests.  We wanted to take the opportunity to offer advice on what to do if an Agency fails to respond to a FOIA request.  The first step is to move into the enforcement and escalation steps. The outline below offers advice on how to navigate through the steps to have Agencies comply with your request(s). Step One Verify that the response deadlines have […]

Five Situations That May Require Independent Review Most organizations prefer to address workplace concerns internally. In many cases, that approach is entirely appropriate. Human resources professionals, compliance personnel, managers, and in-house counsel are often well-positioned to evaluate employee complaints, policy violations, and other routine workplace issues. Some matters, however, present legal, regulatory, reputational, or operational risks that exceed the scope of a routine internal review. Recognizing when an issue has outgrown internal resources can be as important as the investigation itself. Below are five situations where organizations should assess whether an independent review conducted by outside counsel is warranted. 1. […]

Article by Matt W. Broughton and Paralegal Cynthia O. Cundiff In personal injury litigation, credibility is not an abstract ideal—it is a measurable asset that affects settlement value, litigation posture, and trial outcomes. Cases rarely fail because an injury did not occur; they fail because a jury, judge, adjuster, or defense counsel does not believe the story being told. For that reason, one of the most important skills a plaintiff‑side attorney or paralegal can develop is the ability to “own the truth” of a case. Owning the truth does not mean minimizing damages or weakening advocacy. It means building a […]

Imagine you are driving down I-81 when a tractor-trailer negligently crashes into you, causing severe injuries. You later learn that the trucking company’s insurer is denying coverage—claiming that neither the driver nor the vehicle involved in the crash falls within the scope of the policy. If the driver and the trucking company lack sufficient assets to satisfy a judgment, are you out of luck? Not necessarily. In certain cases, an MCS-90 endorsement can provide a path to recovery, even when traditional insurance coverage appears unavailable. This article explains what an MCS-90 endorsement is, why federal law requires it, and how […]

Article co-written by Andrew Gay and Summer Associate Randall Shirey A practical overview of amendments affecting residential landlords, property managers, and manufactured home park owners. The 2026 Virginia General Assembly Session produced some of the most substantial landlord-tenant law changes in recent years. Many amendments took effect on July 1, 2026, while others do not go into effect until January 1, 2027, or even July 1, 2027, making advance preparation important for compliance. The 2026 Virginia General Assembly Session produced a broad set of amendments affecting both traditional residential landlords governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (“VRLTA”) […]

Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia landlords subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) must provide residential tenants with 14 days’ written notice, rather than the previous 5-day notice, before terminating a rental agreement for nonpayment of rent. The change was enacted through 2026 General Assembly amendments to Virginia Code § 55.1-1245(F). Under the prior version of the statute, if a tenant failed to pay rent when due, a landlord could serve a written pay-or-quit notice giving the tenant 5 days to pay the outstanding rent. If the tenant failed to cure the default within that period, the […]

Virginia employers need to know about a significant change in hiring and recruiting practices as the Commonwealth’s new Pay Transparency Law (SB 215) takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law, codified as Virginia Code § 40.1-28.7:12, creates new requirements related to applicant pay history and compensation disclosures. Below is a link to the new law. View the new law here. Key Requirements for Virginia Employers Pay History Inquiries Are Prohibited Employers shall not seek the wage or salary history of a prospective employee or applicant. If you have language on your application seeking an applicant’s prior pay history, it […]

Allegheny Construction Company, Inc. v. Town of Christiansburg, Virginia, et al., 86 Va. App. 321 (2025). McCormick Taylor, Inc. v. Allegheny Construction Company, Inc., 86 Va. App. 321 (2025). Kleinfelder, Inc., f/k/a Century Eng’g, Inc., d/b/a NXL Constr. v. Allegheny Constr. Co. Inc., 86 Va. App. 321 (2025). A recent decision from the Court of Appeals of Virginia emphasizes legal principles that apply to owners, contractors, and the design and inspection teams who support public projects. It reiterates that project participants working for the same owner—including consultants and their employees—generally can’t be sued for tort claims based on their work […]

Being injured by a hit‑and‑run driver often leaves victims believing they have no legal options because the at‑fault driver cannot be identified. Despite serious criminal penalties for fleeing the scene, hit‑and‑run crashes remain common in Virginia and across the country. Recognizing this, Virginia allows injured people to pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage, even when the responsible driver is never found. Driver’s Duty to Stop at an Accident Scene Virginia law is explicit about a driver’s legal responsibilities following a crash. Under Va. Code § 46.2‑894, a driver involved in an accident that causes injury, death, or damage to attended […]