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SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Virginia Case Summary The Episcopal Diocese of S. Va. v. Marshall Virginia Court of Appeals No. 1955-23-2 Decided: July 16, 2024 Defamation claims which are inextricably intertwined with a religious institution’s governance are barred by first amendment protections. Background This matter centers around statements made by a Bishop about a priest in… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Virginia Case Summary Hazelwood v. Lawyer Garage, LLC Virginia Court of Appeals 81 Va. App. 586, 904 S.E.2d 322 Decided: August 6, 2024 In multistate tort actions, the governing substantive law is the law of the state where the last event necessary to make an actor liable for an alleged tort takes… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Washington, DC Case Summary Woods v. WMATA United States District Court for the District of Columbia Nos. 18-CV-1299 & 18-CV-1386 Decided: July 18, 2024 Res ipsa loquitur may be invoked only where a layman can infer negligence as a matter of common knowledge, or where expert testimony is presented, that such accidents… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Maryland Case Summaries Adventist Healthcare, Inc. v. Behram Maryland Supreme Court No. 16, September Term, 2023 Decided: August 27, 2024 A reasonable juror could have determined petitioner violated the settlement agreement by including additional language in their report to regulatory authorities. Background This contractual dispute stems from Dr. Behram’s (“Respondent”) former employment… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Pennsylvania Case Summaries Phillips v. Altair Real Estate Servs. Pennsylvania Superior Court 2024 WL 4052199, 2024 Pa. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2223 Decided: September 5, 2024 The Superior Court of Pennsylvania Expands the “hills and ridges” liability defense to apply to snow removal entities in negligence actions. Background This negligence action arises from… read more