The Library

Article co-written by Andrew Gay, Jake Bryant, and Summer Associate Carter Leverette Today, social media is a powerful tool for marketing. Influencers, entrepreneurs, and businesses use social media platforms to promote ideas, products, and services in a way that attracts consumers on a personal level. Anyone with a phone or computer can create content that is instantly pushed out to millions of viewers. Consider this example: Bob Buyer hires Chris Carpenter to build a set of custom bookshelves for his den. Chris does not disappoint and delivers and installs a flawless set of custom bookshelves. Chris knows that client referrals […]

In recent years, the Supreme Court has taken a keen interest in harmonizing intellectual property and the free speech protections of the First Amendment.[1] In 2023, the Court held that artist Andy Warhol’s unauthorized use of a photograph of Prince to create a silk screen portrait of the artist was not a protected fair use under the Copyright Act.[2] In the copyright context, fair use carves out a line of demarcation between an author’s right to monopolize his creative expressions and free speech by allowing others to engage in non-infringing uses like critiques, commentary, new reporting, teaching, and research.[3] Fair […]

Article co-written by Matthew Broughton, Jared Tuck, and Summer Associate Emily Brooks Virginia law has seen several recent changes regarding auto insurance, and this trend is continuing. Since July 1, 2023, three major changes have been enacted, with two taking effect in the near future. Here’s what you should know about these recent changes to the law and what impact these changes will have on personal injury cases arising from Virginia motor vehicle accidents.  I.  Change #1: Elimination of the Liability Credit Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) and uninsured motorist coverage (UM) both act as a safety mechanism if you or […]

We all make mistakes. Mistakes happen at home; they happen driving to work, mistakes are made here in the law firm, and mistakes happen in the practice of medicine. A victim seeking compensation arising from a medical mistake, “medical malpractice,” faces legal challenges to recovery in Virginia which are unique among tort victims. This is why having an experienced Virginia medical malpractice attorney can make or break a case. For instance, unlike all other personal injury claims, medical malpractice cases have a cap, or limit, on recovery imposed by Virginia law which applies regardless of the severity of the injury […]

Article co-written by Andrew Gay, Jeff Southard, and Summer Associate Carter Leverette In early May, the Supreme Court of Virginia’s decision in Montalla, LLC v. Commonwealth, established some favorable legal precedent for contractors doing business with the Commonwealth of Virginia.[1] Specifically, the Court noted that the Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity cannot be used as a defense by the Commonwealth when a party brings a claim against it based upon a valid contract entered into by a duly authorized government agent.[2] Traditionally, the doctrine of sovereign immunity prevents parties from being able to sue federal or state governments when they are […]