Virginia Case Commentaries

Maxwell v. Commonwealth of Virginia: Establishing Standards for Constructive Possession of Narcotics

Date: Mar 1, 2008

Maxwell v. Commonwealth of Virginia: Establishing Standards for Constructive Possession of Narcotics Introduction Jayson Franklin Maxwell v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 275 Va. 437 (2008), is a...

PHELPS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia: Expanding 'Person' in Endangerment Statutes

Date: Jan 12, 2008

PHELPS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia: Expanding 'Person' in Endangerment Statutes Introduction Harlan Anthony Phelps, S/K/A Harlan Anthony Phelps, II v. Commonwealth of Virginia (275 Va. 139) is a...

Reaffirming Consent Search Standards under the Fourth Amendment: Malbrough v. Commonwealth

Date: Jan 12, 2008

Reaffirming Consent Search Standards under the Fourth Amendment: Malbrough v. Commonwealth Introduction Ronald Wayne Malbrough, Jr. v. Commonwealth of Virginia (275 Va. 163, 2008) is a pivotal case...

Constructive Possession of Firearms in Drug-Related Convictions: Insights from BARAKA BOLDEN v. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

Date: Jan 12, 2008

Constructive Possession of Firearms in Drug-Related Convictions: Insights from Baraka BOLDEN v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Introduction The case of Baraka BOLDEN v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia, decided by...

Apparent Authority in Third-Party Consent: Expanding the Scope in Fourth Amendment Searches

Date: Jan 12, 2008

Apparent Authority in Third-Party Consent: Expanding the Scope in Fourth Amendment Searches Introduction Keith I. GLENN v. COMmonwealth of Virginia, 275 Va. 123 (2008), adjudicated by the Supreme...

Restitution Must Directly Result from Offense: Howell v. Commonwealth of Virginia

Date: Nov 3, 2007

Restitution Must Directly Result from Offense: Howell v. Commonwealth of Virginia Introduction The case of Lloyd Daren Howell v. Commonwealth of Virginia (274 Va. 737) presents a pivotal examination...

Supreme Court of Virginia Upholds Postrelease Supervision as Constitutional under Sixth Amendment

Date: Nov 3, 2007

Supreme Court of Virginia Upholds Postrelease Supervision as Constitutional under Sixth Amendment Introduction This commentary examines the judgment in ANDREW ROBERT ALSTON v. COMMONWEALTH OF...

Mandatory Compliance with FOIA Response Protocols by Public Authorities in Security Contexts: Analysis of Fenter v. Norfolk Airport Authority

Date: Sep 15, 2007

Mandatory Compliance with FOIA Response Protocols by Public Authorities in Security Contexts: Analysis of Fenter v. Norfolk Airport Authority Introduction The case of John H. Fenter v. Norfolk...

Interpretation of 'Residential Purposes' in Restrictive Covenants: Ambiguity Favors Property Use

Date: Jun 9, 2007

Interpretation of 'Residential Purposes' in Restrictive Covenants: Ambiguity Favors Property Use Introduction WILLIAM D. SCOTT, ET AL. v. DONALD F. WALKER, ET AL. is a pivotal case decided by the...

Right to Continuance for Incarcerated Parents in Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings

Date: Jun 9, 2007

Right to Continuance for Incarcerated Parents in Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings Case Citation TRACY HAUGEN v. SHENANDOAH VALLEY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. Supreme Court of Virginia,...

Strict Construction of Penal Statutes: Defining 'Involved' in Code § 46.2-894

Date: Jun 9, 2007

Strict Construction of Penal Statutes: Defining 'Involved' in Code § 46.2-894 Introduction Clifford Robinson Jr. v. Commonwealth of Virginia is a landmark case adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...

Contractual Boundaries on Fraud and Fiduciary Claims in Insurance Disputes: Augusta Mutual v. Mason

Date: Jun 9, 2007

Contractual Boundaries on Fraud and Fiduciary Claims in Insurance Disputes: Augusta Mutual v. Mason Introduction Augusta Mutual Insurance Company v. Carvie M. Mason, Jr., et al. is a pivotal case...

Withdrawal of Guilty Plea Prior to Sentencing: Establishing the "Evident Ends of Justice" Standard

Date: Jun 9, 2007

Withdrawal of Guilty Plea Prior to Sentencing: Establishing the "Evident Ends of Justice" Standard Introduction The case of Patricia Ann Justus v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 274 Va. 143 (2007),...

Affirmation of Capital Murder Conviction and Death Penalty Procedures in Murder-For-Hire Case: IVAN TELEGUZ v. Commonwealth of Virginia

Date: Apr 21, 2007

Affirmation of Capital Murder Conviction and Death Penalty Procedures in Murder-For-Hire Case: IVAN TELEGUZ v. Commonwealth of Virginia Introduction The case of Ivan Teleguz v. Commonwealth of...

Limits on Inherent Court Power: Monetary Sanctions for Attorney Misconduct

Date: Mar 3, 2007

Limits on Inherent Court Power: Monetary Sanctions for Attorney Misconduct Introduction The case of Robert C. Nusbaum v. Candace L. Berlin, et al. involves a complex legal dispute adjudicated by the...

Limits on Judicial Testimony in Contempt Proceedings: An Analysis of Commonwealth of Virginia v. George M. Epps

Date: Mar 3, 2007

Limits on Judicial Testimony in Contempt Proceedings: An Analysis of Commonwealth of Virginia v. George M. Epps Introduction The case of Commonwealth of Virginia v. George M. Epps (641 S.E.2d 77)...

Strict Compliance Required for 'Come and Go' Exemption: Insights from Conyers v. Martial Arts World of Richmond

Date: Jan 13, 2007

Strict Compliance Required for 'Come and Go' Exemption: Insights from Conyers v. Martial Arts World of Richmond Introduction The case of Anthony Conyers, Jr., Commissioner, Commonwealth of Virginia...

Virginia Supreme Court Denies Civil Conspiracy Claims in Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: Almy v. Grisham

Date: Jan 13, 2007

Virginia Supreme Court Denies Civil Conspiracy Claims in Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: Almy v. Grisham Introduction In the landmark case of Katharine Almy v. John Grisham, Jr., et...

Defamation Per Se in Legal Practice: An Analysis of Jay Tronfeld v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

Date: Nov 4, 2006

Defamation Per Se in Legal Practice: An Analysis of Jay Tronfeld v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Introduction Jay Tronfeld v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, et al., 272 Va. 709 (2006),...

Supreme Court of Virginia Clarifies Burden of Proof in Fiduciary Duty for Corporate Opportunities

Date: Sep 16, 2006

Supreme Court of Virginia Clarifies Burden of Proof in Fiduciary Duty for Corporate Opportunities Introduction The case Today Homes, Inc., t/a Chesapeake Homes v. Emma Williams, et al. addresses...