The Library

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 […]

Throughout the first quarter of 2026, Gentry Locke’s Intellectual Property group has witnessed a rise in trademark-related scams and fraudulent solicitations. These notices often reference your trademark directly and will pose as an attorney, billing service, or even a government agency to appear legitimate and pressure recipients to make unnecessary payments or disclose sensitive information. Exercise caution when reviewing any trademark-related correspondence. Below, we have provided information and resources designed to help you identify trademark scams and avoid making payments or providing information to bad actors. How USPTO Correspondence Works When You Are Represented by Counsel USPTO communications go to […]

If you are under investigation, facing a lawsuit, or thinking about hiring a lawyer, you have probably wondered whether you can use ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI chatbot to help you think through your case. A federal judge has now weighed in on that question, and the answer is one that anyone using AI to work through a legal problem should understand. In short: at least one federal court has held that conversations with a public AI chatbot may not be private or privileged, and may be discoverable in litigation. The law in this area is still developing, and other […]

Effective March 1 of this year, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) implemented a significant change to its loan eligibility requirements, barring green card holders and other non-U.S. citizens from applying for or receiving SBA loans. The new rule applies immediately to the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs. Beginning April 1, 2026, the policy will be extended to the Surety Bond and Microloan programs. Under recent, prior SBA guidance, a small business could still remain eligible for SBA financing if up to 5% of its ownership was held by a foreign national or lawful permanent resident. That policy has now […]