Practice Areas
- Personal Injury and Automobile Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Business Litigation
- Divorce
Blog 
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Firm News
W&L professor formally sues Virginia Lottery
Salmonella can ride water into tomatoes
Cold Medication Use In Young Children Can Lead To Adverse Effects, Even Death
Man in critical condition after being hit by car in Norfolk
Deaths linked to heparin use rise to 149
Two Naval Men Injured in Va. Beach Wreck
Ford Recalling 655,000 Trucks With Braking Problems
Study: Active Women at Reduced Risk for Breast Cancer
Beta Blockers Increasing Stroke Risk
Driver gets 60 days for hitting, dragging two children
Firm Library
Personal Injury and Automobile Accidents
- One in Three Va. Drivers Texting
- No Civil Liability for Hosts or Bars in Virginia
- Is Your Car Spying On You?
- What can be done about teen car deaths?
- Virginia's Seat Belt Laws
Medical Malpractice
- New Technology may Reduce Physician Mistakes
- Shortage of On-Call Specialists at Hospitals is Costing Patients
- Switching to Electronic Health Records has Great Benefits, But Poses Liability for Hospitals
- Website Allows Consumers to Compare Hospitals
- Medical Interns and Sleep Deprivation
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Requesting a Restricted License in Virginia
- Ignition Interlock Devices & DUI Law
- How Virginia's Driver Demerit Point System Works
- Three Driving Demerit Point Offenses
- Four Driving Demerit Point Offenses
Divorce
General
Virginia Legislature Working to Repeal Fines
The Virginia Senate has voted to repeal the states costly, unpopular fees on dangerous drivers. The bill has received unanimous approval in the state Senate’s Finance Committee and again received unanimous approval on the Senate floor.
The original law, which went into effect on July 1, 2007, imposes fees of between $750 and $3,000 for serious traffic offenses. It was enacted to help finance a transportation bill approved by the General Assembly as an alternative to raising taxes.
The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court has put together this guide for the public. The legislation included the following fines:
Driving with a Suspended or Revoked License: Three annual installments of $250 each.
Reckless Driving: Three annual installments of $350 each.
Driving while Intoxicated: Three annual installments of $750 each.
Felony Conviction for Motor Vehicle Related Offense: Three annual installments of $1,000 each.
If the bill repealing the civil remedial fines is successful, the state comptroller will have to issue refunds to drivers who have been previously assessed fines. Individuals would have to return to the court where they were convicted and simply fill out a form requesting the judge to clear their name.
The civil remedial fines have been criticized as “unconstitutional,” by an Arlington County District Court Judge. Judge Dorothy Clarke ruled in July of 2007 that the fees violated guarantees of equal protection because they only apply to state residents.
One of the silly repercussions of the civil remedial law is the case of 19 year old Kajuan Cornish, who recently received a $1,050 abusive driver fee for reckless driving. The problem? Mr. Cornish was driving a bike! Cornish was pedaling back to work on Warwick Boulevard in Newport News after a lunch break when he was pulled over by a police officer for going too fast.
His appeals to a Newport News General District Court judge fell on deaf ears, as the ticket and $1,050 fine were upheld. State Delegate Dave Albo, who drafted the legislation, said he was surprised to find out that a judge would apply them to a bicyclist.
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FAQs
Personal Injury and Automobile Accidents
- Do I need a specialty lawyer for my personal injury case?
- When do I have a personal injury claim?
- Will a traffic court's determination of guilt or innocence affect the outcome of my civil suit for personal injury?
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Medical Malpractice
- What will the attorneys fees cost?
- What should I do if I feel that I, or someone close to me, have been a victim of medical malpractice?
- How is medical malpractice defined?
- The result of the medical care was bad and I believe that my doctor made a mistake. Will I win my case?
- Do doctors have a duty to tell the patients of every possible risk associated with a medical procedure?
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Will a traffic court's determination of guilt or innocence affect the outcome of my civil suit for personal injury?
- Does the failure of the police to give the Miranda warnings prior to arrest operate to make your arrest unlawful?
- I have failed my breathalyzer test. What good can an attorney do in such a case?
- When should an attorney be present with me?
- I have been asked to sign some forms by the police officers. What should I do?
Business Litigation
- What is involved in litigating a business matter?
- What are the alternatives to litigation?
- How does mediation differ from arbitration?
- What effort will you put in to my case?
- What fee schedule is employed for a class action?
Divorce
- If your spouse is in the military and you have been married less than ten years, do you have any rights to the military pension?
- Do you have to have the agreement of your spouse to get divorced?
- How is it possible to agree on a divorce with the best possible outcome for both parties?
- Can I and my spouse use the same attorney for our divorce for the purpose of saving money?
- How likely is it for a father to retain custody of the children?