Miscellaneous Matters

Three recent medical malpractice cases in Virginia, Norfolk, Prince Edward County, and Fairfax, each won a jury verdict greater than the statutory cap, as highlighted here and here.

The Virginia Supreme Court building had a scare when an employee discovered a brown, flaky substance in a letter the employee opened. Police did not indicate the nature of the substance.

The Virginian Pilot is still on the judicial selection issue, writing this editorial. The editorial offers some vague recommendation for "merit panels [to] screen and recommend judicial candidates" and then "legislators could vote on the final choice." Doesn't that put you right back into the same position? Local bars would like to have more input, but are being shut out of the process, and that really is the source of the discontent. Our system isn't pretty, but nobody suggests that the process puts unqualified candidates on the bench, because, generally speaking, that simply isn't the case.

We missed this story from January about a pro bono award given by the Richmond Bar Association. Lawrence Cohn was named the winner of the bar's annual Pro Bono award, but died prior the award ceremony. Mr. Cohn seemed to embody the best of what lawyers do for people.