Author Archives: Chadwick
ASKED AND ANSWERED
By: Janeen Koch This is where we answer legal questions commonly posed to us by our insurance and corporate clients. If you have any burning questions that need quick answers, or if you have any suggestions for questions in future newsletters, please e- mail Janeen at: [email protected]. This edition’s subject: Minor settlements Q: Does a […]
TOP 10 HIGHEST JURY VERDICTS IN 2022
By: Janeen Koch Each year, Virginia Lawyers Weekly compiles a list of the million-dollar-plus jury verdicts that are reported to them by attorneys across the Commonwealth. In 2022, there were 18 such verdicts with the highest being an award of $15 million from a Charlottesville jury. Historically, Charlottesville and Fairfax County have been fairly conservative […]
NEW VIRGINIA LEGISLATION TO TAKE EFFECT IN JULY
By: Janeen Koch Multiple bills passed in Virginia that will have an effect on the handling and evaluation of insurance claims. And more importantly, a proposed bill to abolish the contributory negligence defense, failed. Here is a summary of the noteworthy legislation that will, and will not, go into effect in July: Finding of guilt […]
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys! Or… Is it? Condominium Casualty Losses and Insurance Issues
By: Olga S. Tseliak The following scenario is all too familiar for many who live in or manage a condominium: a pipe bursts in a unit, water is everywhere, panic ensues, with all those affected looking to the association to both stop the water leak and make the repairs. The initial instinct on the part […]
2023 Virginia Legislative Update Call to Order
By: Tiago D. Bezerra The Virginia General Assembly gaveled into session on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. This year, in accordance with House Joint Resolution 471, the General Assembly will remain at work for forty-five days – a so-called thirty-day “short session” extended by legislative agreement for an additional fifteen days – when it is set […]
Changes to the DC Condo Act’s Warranty Provisions Set to Take Effect
By: Brad M. Barna The DC Council recently made significant changes to the provisions of the DC Condominium Act (“Act”) relating to the warranty that each developer provides to condominium associations and unit owners. Specifically, pursuant to the Act, each developer of a condominium warrants the common elements […]
Addressing the Epidemic of Bad Behavior
By: Brendan P. Bunn Across our client base, we have been witnessing an apparent uptick in incidents of bad behavior by community association owners and residents. Here are some examples: A disturbed resident in Northern Virginia, after two months of harassing neighbors and damaging common areas, was finally taken into […]
Common Interest Community Board Updates Resale Disclosure Fees
By: Tiago D. Bezerra The resale disclosure statutes set forth in the Virginia Condominium Act (“Condo Act”) and the Virginia Property Owners’ Association Act (“POA Act”) establish certain maximum charges that can be assessed for preparing the requisite disclosure documents when an owner sells his condominium unit or lot in a common interest community association. […]
ASKED AND ANSWERED
By: Henry Moore This is where we answer legal questions commonly posed to us by our insurance and corporate clients. If you have any burning questions that need quick answers, or if you have any suggestions for questions in future newsletters, please e-mail Janeen at [email protected]. Q: Why do things move so quickly […]
EXPANDED DUTY OF LANDOWNERS TO CONTROL CONDUCT OF THIRD PARTIES ON THEIR PROPERTY
By: Janeen Koch In order to establish liability for negligence against a landowner, it first must be established that a legal duty is owed. Whether a legal duty in tort exists under a particular set of circumstances has been an issue that the Virginia Supreme Court has often had to grapple with. Of course, all […]