Virginia

Virginia Court Overturns $2 Billion Verdict in High-Stakes Appian vs. Pegasystems Trade Secrets Battle

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RICHMOND, Va. — In a major legal reversal, the Court of Appeals of Virginia has overturned a staggering $2 billion jury verdict initially awarded to Appian in its trade secret lawsuit against competitor Pegasystems. The court upheld the finding of trade secret misappropriation but mandated a retrial on both liability and damages, citing procedural errors by the trial court. Appian, a prominent player in the business process management (BPM) software arena, had accused its competitor Pegasystems of stealing trade secrets by covertly hiring a former employee with insider knowledge and accessing proprietary software demonstrations. The … Read more

Judge Rules Virginia School District Must Allow Transgender Student to Join Girls’ Tennis Team

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Richmond, Va. – A recent ruling in Virginia has paved the way for a transgender student to participate on the girls’ tennis team in her school district, emphasizing the importance of nondiscrimination policies in educational settings. The decision came after a lengthy legal battle, underscoring ongoing national debates surrounding sports participation rights of transgender students. The case involved a high school student, identified by the initials A.B., who sought to join the girls’ tennis team but faced opposition from the local school district. Citing Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination … Read more

Compassion Over Contempt: How a Virginia Courtroom Incident Highlights the Need for Trauma-Informed Legal Practices

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Richmond, VA – In a Virginia courthouse back in December 2016, a seemingly ordinary legal proceeding took a turn that would highlight a profound issue within the legal profession: the need for sensitivity and support surrounding mental health and substance abuse. Charles, a veteran criminal defense attorney with more than 30 years of experience, arrived early for a preliminary hearing, prepared to finalize a plea agreement for an indigent client charged with minor offenses. Yet, instead of proceeding as planned, the day spiraled into one of public judgment and personal despair. As the hearing commenced, … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Upholds $523,327 Award to Virginia Family for Pipeline Land Seizure

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Roanoke, VA — In a unanimous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, a Virginia family’s right to fair compensation was upheld, restoring a $523,327 jury verdict. The court’s decision countered a lower court that had reduced the Terry family’s compensation by half in a dispute over land taken for a pipeline project. The involved property, an 8.37-acre tract in Roanoke County, Virginia, was appropriated by Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC under the provisions of the Natural Gas Act for the construction of a natural gas conduit stretching from West Virginia to … Read more