The Library

On November 2, 2010, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a press release advising that its Hartford CT Regional Director issued a complaint against American Medical Response (“American”) of Connecticut for firing a union-represented medical technician, Dawnmarie Souza, after she posted remarks criticizing her supervisor on her personal Facebook account. The complaint also alleges that American illegally denied union representation to the employee during an investigatory interview, and maintained and enforced an overly broad blogging and internet posting policy. The NLRB indicates that the issue started when Ms. Souza was asked by her supervisor to prepare a report concerning […]

J. Scott Sexton, a partner with the Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, has been recognized as a “Leader in the Law” for 2010 by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for his accomplishments in developing the law on Virginia mineral rights. Sexton is one of 31 Virginia attorneys who were honored at an October 21st reception in Richmond. According to Virginia Lawyers Weekly, the “Leaders in the Law” honors lawyers who set the standard for other attorneys

Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP, representing three Virginia coal owners, has secured a $75 million settlement from Consol Energy, Inc. of Canonsburg, Penn., and its subsidiaries resulting from the energy consortium’s decision to secretly dump billions of gallons of contaminated water into several mines in western Virginia for over a decade. The award is among the highest environmental property damage settlements ever awarded in the U.S. On June 1, 2010, the parties to the Buchanan County Circuit Court case of Yukon Pocahontas Coal Company, et al. v. Consolidation Coal Company, et al., Island Creek Coal Company, Consol Energy, Inc., […]

G. Michael Pace, Jr., Managing Partner for the Virginia law firm Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, has been recognized as a “Leader in the Law” for 2009 by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Pace is one of only 28 attorneys statewide to be honored with the achievement. The “Leaders in the Law” award, now in its fourth year, is given annually to attorneys and law professionals who demonstrate significant achievements or contributions to the practice of law in the previous year. The awards “aim to honor the lawyers who are setting the standard for other lawyers.” Pace joins Gentry Locke attorneys Monica […]

The Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference has honored two Gentry Locke attorneys during their June 20th awards ceremony. Whit Ellerman served as the statewide chair for No Bills Night. This Young Lawyers Conference event allows the public to inquire about legal issues and their legal rights at no cost. Whit received the Outstanding Service Award for key involvement in this worthwhile event. Brooke Rosen received her Outstanding Service Award for chairing the Southern Virginia Minority Pre-Law Conference, which provided a full day of information and experiences designed to help minority undergraduate students in their decision to apply to law school. Gentry Locke was a […]

On June 17, 2008, President Bush signed the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (the HEART Act), which expands the requirements under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) and requires employers to provide certain benefits to employees called to active duty, including the following: Individuals who die during qualified military service must be treated as having been actively employed on the date of their death; Differential wages must be included as compensation for purposes of determining benefits under a retirement plan; and Individuals called to active duty for at least 180 days […]

A case handled by Gentry Locke attorney W. David Paxton was named to the list of “Virginia’s Largest Verdicts of 2007” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Paxton and his co-counsel, Tim Cullen of Jones Day, made the list with a verdict of $4 million that was obtained for Gentry Locke client The United Company. The United Company maintained that its former president should return a $10 million bonus that he received under an oral agreement. The executive left the company just 18 months after receiving the funds. The jury required the executive to return $4 million, finding that he had been unjustly enriched. […]

Todd Leeson, a partner with the Roanoke law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore concentrating on employment law and litigation, has recently been selected to serve on the Board of Directors of two prestigious community organizations: the Art Museum of Western Virginia and the Roanoke Valley Society for Human Resource Management. Mr. Leeson has practiced employment law in the Roanoke Valley since 1991 and has also served in leadership positions for several regional or state-wide non-profit organizations.

ROANOKE (April 10, 2007)