News, Events, Seminars & Articles by Gentry Locke Attorneys

Alert: Administration Solicits Whistleblowers

News December 2013

On December 5, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the launching of a new online form to make it easier for workers to file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. OSHA is the federal agency that enforces the whistleblower provisions designed to protect employees who report alleged violations of 22 different federal statutes that regulate securities, trucking, airline, nuclear power, pipeline, environmental, rail, public transport, workplace safety and health, and consumer protection. Detailed information on the rights of whistleblowers, including Fact Sheets and instructions on how to submit the new complaint form, are available on the new OSHA site, www.whistleblowers.gov. […]

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Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to “2013 Legal Elite”

News November 2013

Virginia Business magazine asked lawyers throughout the commonwealth to nominate and select the best in their profession in 16 categories of practice. Elected to the list for 2013 are these Gentry Locke attorneys: J. Rudy Austin – Construction Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. – Criminal Law G. Franklin Flippin – Business Law K. Brett Marston – Construction Monica T. Monday – Appellate Law James J. O’Keeffe – Appellate Law W. David Paxton – Labor/Employment G. Michael Pace, Jr. – Real Estate/Land Use J. Scott Sexton – Civil Litigation

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Medical Hardship Ignored by Physician Results in $300,000+ Award

Case Studies November 2013

The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.

Tazewell County Circuit Court Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore for the Plaintiff, along with Co-counsel Tom Scott of The Street Law Firm. While at Clinch Valley Medical Center on April 19, 2008, our client developed priapism, a urologic emergency which required immediate evaluation by a urologist. Our client’s attending physician failed to timely obtain a urologist to evaluate him and, as a result, the priapism went untreated for approximately 16 hours. This caused permanent erectile dysfunction. After more than 3 days of evidence, a jury of 7 women and 1 man deliberated for approximately two-and-a-half hours before returning a verdict for our […]

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Thirteen Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to “Super Lawyers Business Edition US”

News November 2013

Super Lawyers Business Edition US has named thirteen Gentry Locke attorneys to its United States 2013 edition: J. Rudy Austin – Civil Litigation Defense Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. – Criminal Defense/White Collar G. Franklin Flippin – Business/Corporate Gregory J. Haley – Business Litigation Guy M. Harbert, III – Plaintiff Defense/General Paul G. Klockenbrink – Employment & Labor K. Brett Marston – Construction Litigation Monica T. Monday – Appellate (Top listed in Virginia in 2013) G. Michael Pace, Jr. – Real Estate W. David Paxton – Employment & Labor William R. Rakes – Business Litigation J. Scott Sexton – Business Litigation Bruce C. Stockburger […]

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Defense of Residential Construction Dispute Reduces $385,000 Claim to $6,000

Case Studies November 2013

The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.

Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore for the Defense Salem City Circuit Court In a residential construction dispute, a contractor sued homeowners for $385,000 for alleged unpaid extra work. Gentry Locke represented the homeowners in defense of the lawsuit. After a six day jury trial, the jury only awarded the contractor a de minimus amount of approximately $6,000.

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I Am Richard Posner…and So Can You?

Articles November 2013

The Daily Beast is running a Q&A with Richard Posner called “How I Write.” Judge Posner is a brilliant and prolific writer. As a person who writes for a living, I was naturally intrigued. Also, I picked up the link from U of R Professor Kevin Walsh‘s Twitter feed (@kevincwalsh). Professor Walsh has a habit of sharing fascinating arcana, like the story behind the terrifying hat that Justice Scalia wore to the inauguration. Unfortunately, except for one incredible line, the Posner article is a bit of a let-down. Here’s the line: Hilarious. Also, Judge Posner writes about 90 opinions a […]

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Physician Successfully Defended Before Medical Board

Case Studies November 2013

The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.

Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore for the Defendant Virginia Board of Medicine The Virginia Board of Medicine leveled disciplinary charges against our client, a pain management physician, for allegedly excessive and improper prescribing of opioid medications to a patient who had recently completed inpatient detox treatment. Following a hearing, the Board dismissed all charges. It found that the inpatient treatment records showed only that the patient was opioid dependent, not opioid addicted. As the patient had long-term chronic pain problems, she would be expected to be dependent on opioids to manage that pain. In short, the Board concluded that the physician […]

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Family Member’s Estate Protected in Slip & Fall Case

Case Studies November 2013

The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.

Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore for the Defense Montgomery County Circuit Court The case involved a slip-and-fall with an ad damnum (demand) for a half-million dollars. The plaintiff fell in her sister-in-law’s yard in November of 2005. Gentry Locke represented the sister-in-law defendant, and following the sister-in-law’s death in 2012, represented her estate. Guy Harbert and Catherine Huff defended the case on the grounds that the plaintiff could not prove what caused her fall, and that our client had no notice of a defective condition in her yard or of the plaintiff’s presence in the yard at the time of the fall. At trial […]

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Attorney Christopher M. Kozlowski Joins Gentry Locke’s Business Law Group

News November 2013

The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP is pleased to announce that attorney Chris Kozlowski has joined the firm’s Business Law group, which handles a wide range of general corporate matters, including tax matters, securities and banking regulation and compliance, and commercial transactions. Chris recently moved to Roanoke and is licensed in both Virginia and Connecticut. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, he practiced with a firm in Stamford, Connecticut. His experience includes representing corporate and individual clients in asset and real property purchases and transfers of entity ownership. He has also represented placement agents in exempt […]

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Leeson Speaks to Three HR Groups Across Region, Moderates VBA Conference Panel

News October 2013

Gentry Locke employment law partner Todd Leeson recently spoke to three different human resource associations. On September 19, 2013, Todd presented an ADA and FMLA update at the New River Valley SHRM’s Fourth Annual Legal Update. On September 25, 2013, Todd provided a talk entitled “Legal Issues Arising Out of Social Media Use By Employees” to the Shenandoah Valley SHRM for its Virginia Legal Forum. On October 1, 2013, Todd spoke about “Recent Employment Law Trends and Advice for HR Professionals” to the Franklin County Human Resource Association. In late October, Todd also served as a moderator for a panel on “Retaliation […]

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