Browse recent court opinions from the Virginia Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
Court strikes down "no-hire" clause in settlement agreement as unlawful restraint on trade.
Butcher v. General R.V. Center, Inc., decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 23, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved whether a "no-hire" clause in a settlement agr...
Supreme Court Denies Appeal on Warrantless Vehicle Search
Fergeson v. Commonwealth (ORDER), decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Fergeson, sought to appeal a circuit court's denial of his mo...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Burglary Conviction, Admitting Prior Convictions
Commonwealth v. Fayne, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia reviewed a defendant's conviction for statutory burglary ...
Statements to Police Deemed Voluntary, Conviction Affirmed
Commonwealth v. Richerson, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed the trial court's decision, holding that the...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Confession Admissibility
Blow v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 16, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia considered whether a defendant's confession was voluntary ...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Warrantless Vehicle Search Based on Informant Tip
Commonwealth v. Knight-Walker, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed the trial court's denial of the defendan...
Confession obtained after invoking counsel violates 5th Amendment rights
Cuffee v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 16, 2026, resulted in a reversed outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia reviewed a defendant's conviction for felony murder and relat...
Malicious wounding conviction doesn't qualify for ACCA enhancement
Stevens v. Jurnigan, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether a defendant's prior conviction for a "crime of violence"...
Court Reverses ABC's Denial of Beer and Wine License for Convenience Store
Thibault Enterprises, LLC v. Yost, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 9, 2026, resulted in a mixed outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authori...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Public Reprimand for Attorney Lee's Professional Misconduct
This case involves Mr. Lee, an attorney, who was disciplined by the Virginia State Bar for professional misconduct. The Virginia State Bar's Disciplinary Board found that Mr. Lee violated several rule...
Lawsuit Against Republican National Committee Dismissed for Failing to State a Valid Claim
This case, Koski v. Republican National Committee, was dismissed by the court. The plaintiff, Koski, had filed a lawsuit against the Republican National Committee (RNC). The court found that Koski's c...
Virginia Supreme Court Rules Real Estate Contract Enforceable Despite Lack of Specific Closing Date, Reversing Lower Court
This case, Perkins v. Howington, involved a dispute over a contract for the sale of real estate. The plaintiff, Perkins, sought specific performance of the contract, meaning he wanted the court to for...
Lawsuit Against Republican National Committee Dismissed Due to Failure to State a Claim
This case, Koski v. Republican National Committee, was dismissed by the court. The plaintiff, Koski, had filed a lawsuit against the Republican National Committee (RNC). The court found that Koski's c...
Court Upholds Foreclosure on $100,000 Loan After Borrower Defaults
This case involves a dispute between two individuals, Garofalo and Di Vincenzo, over a loan agreement. Garofalo loaned Di Vincenzo $100,000, secured by a deed of trust on Di Vincenzo's property. The a...
Virginia Supreme Court Reverses, Upholds Sentara Medical Group's Non-Compete Clause Against Former Physician
This case involves a dispute between Sentara Medical Group and Dr. Klena, a physician who was employed by Sentara. Dr. Klena signed an employment agreement that included a non-compete clause, preventi...
Defendant's claim of ignorance of firearm prohibition law rejected; conviction upheld.
This case involves a dispute over whether a defendant, Mattocks, could be charged with a crime for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. The Commonwealth argued that Mattocks was pro...
Virginia Supreme Court Limits SCC's Authority Over Loudoun County Utilities
This case involves a dispute between Loudoun County and the State Corporation Commission (SCC) regarding the SCC's authority to regulate certain aspects of Loudoun County's water and sewer services. L...
Court rules employer did not retaliate against employee who reported discrimination
This case involves a dispute between a former employee, Keil, and her former employer, O'Sullivan. Keil alleged that O'Sullivan unlawfully retaliated against her after she reported perceived discrimin...
Court rules on contract breach and damages in business sale dispute.
This case involves a dispute over a contract for the sale of a business. The buyer, Mast, sued the seller, A.A., alleging that A.A. breached the contract by failing to disclose certain debts and liabi...
Court Dismisses Former Employee's Discrimination Lawsuit Against Commonwealth
This case involves a former employee, Mr. Norwood, who sued the Commonwealth of Virginia after his employment was terminated. Mr. Norwood alleged that his termination was a result of unlawful discrimi...
Court dismisses Appian's claims against Pegasystems for unfair competition and tortious interference
This case involves a dispute between two software companies, Appian Corporation and Pegasystems. Appian sued Pegasystems, alleging that Pegasystems had engaged in unfair competition and tortious inter...
Virginia Court of Appeals Rules on Enforceability of Real Estate Contract
This case involves a dispute over a real estate contract. The buyer, Cothran, entered into an agreement to purchase property from the seller, Jauregui. However, the sale did not go through as planned....
Virginia Court Revives Employee's Retaliation Claim Over Safety Complaints
This case involves a dispute between Groundworks Operations, LLC, and its former employee, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell alleged that Groundworks unlawfully retaliated against him after he reported safet...
Court orders mental health evaluation for defendant Brawner in criminal case
This case involves a defendant, Brawner, who was charged with several crimes. The court's order addresses procedural matters related to the case, specifically concerning the defendant's mental health ...
Unsigned, unwitnessed handwritten document not valid as holographic will in Virginia
This case involves a dispute over a will. The court had to decide whether a handwritten document, intended to be a will, was valid. The deceased, Mr. Hargrove, wrote a document that he intended to be ...
Court rules neighbor's fence and shed encroached on property, orders removal.
This case involves a dispute over a property boundary between two neighbors, Ingleside and Hollis. Ingleside claimed that Hollis had encroached on their property by building a fence and a shed that ex...
County Wins Property Dispute Against Landowner Claiming Adverse Possession
This case involves a dispute over a property line between Rappahannock County and a private landowner, Mr. Williams. The county claimed ownership of a strip of land based on a 1974 deed and subsequent...
Court rules fence encroaches on neighbor's property, orders removal and damages.
This case involves a dispute over a property boundary. The plaintiff, Ellis, claimed that the defendant, Jolley, had encroached on his land. The court reviewed the evidence presented by both parties, ...