Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Virginia issued an Opinion in Brooks-Buck v. Wahlstrom, No. 250246 (Oct. 16, 2025), that clarifies the scope of legislative immunity for school board members. The Opinion also serves as a…
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/ Civil Procedure, Civil Remedies, Education Law
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, reshaping the landscape of employment discrimination law…
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/ Civil Rights, Labor & Employment Law
Many local governments and school boards have struggled with how to maintain decorum during public comment opportunities they provide and keep the focus on local concerns within the power of the local government to do something…
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/ Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Education Law
How much is “too much” when it comes to punishment?
From Virginia courts to the U.S. Supreme Court, judges have wrestled with punitive damages and the fine line between deterrence and excess. This article walks through the…
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/ Civil Procedure, Civil Remedies, Constitutional Law
Residential real estate development is a high-stakes business. Managing financing, construction timelines, local approvals, and ultimate sales can lead even experienced developers to overlook critical details that may have…
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/ Construction Law, Insurance, Real Estate - Residential
What began with the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) February 2025 Dear Colleague Letter has now unraveled into injunctions, stays, and ultimately a ruling that voided the guidance and its certification requirements…
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/ Administrative Law, Civil Rights, Education Law
The Court of Appeals of Virginia (Court of Appeals) recently confirmed that a school board employee, who is sued in his or her official capacity, is entitled to sovereign immunity in tort. The ruling, in which the Prince William…
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/ Administrative Law, Education Law
In Blair v. Appomattox County School Board, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reiterated how educators are judged under Title IX when responding to peer-on-peer sexual harassment allegations. The Court said it is not enough…
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/ Civil Rights, Education Law
Many different federal and state laws require employers to provide “reasonable” accommodations. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and Title VII of the Civil…
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/ Civil Rights, Labor & Employment Law
General contractors who contract with owner/developers and who construct large, complex projects such as office buildings, shopping centers, and warehouses, often seek to shift the risk of owner/developer non-payment to their…
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/ Commercial Law & Contracts, Construction Law, Government Contracting
Employers often ask: “How long do I have to hold a job open for someone on extended medical leave?” The Fourth Circuit recently tackled this issue in Coffman v. Nexstar Media, offering helpful guidance for navigating ADA and…
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/ Civil Rights, Labor & Employment Law
A ruling by the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) has clarified that school divisions have the legal right to seek attorney’s fees from special education advocates who repeatedly engage in frivolous or improper challenges…
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/ Administrative Law, Civil Remedies, Education Law
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a school division’s use of LGBTQ+-inclusive storybooks without allowing parental opt-outs unconstitutionally burdened religious freedom. This decision raises significant questions for…
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/ Constitutional Law, Education Law
As purchasers of goods and services, many community associations have felt the impact of recent inflation and rising prices. While prices have continued to rise, community associations still must discharge the maintenance and…
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/ Commercial Law & Contracts, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate - Residential
Effective July 1, 2025, Virginia is implementing several key changes affecting real estate transactions, land use approvals, local governance, and secured lending. Below is a comprehensive overview of what’s changing – and how…
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/ Zoning, Planning & Land Use, Real Estate - Residential, Real Estate - Commercial
