Experience
Acquisition of Transmission Line Easements for Energy Client
Assisted client in securing electrical power transmission line easements by negotiation and condemnation. Despite having an original list of 80 parcels of land, the team settled the majority on a compressed timeline and went to hearing on just four parcels, all of which were ultimately resolved in our client’s favor.
Dismissal of Case Seeking to Ban “Obscene” Book in Virginia
Secured the dismissal of a Virginia state court case seeking to ban the sale of a client’s book. A Virginia Beach General Assembly Delegate brought the action against our client and one of its authors, filed under a decades-old statue and alleging that the book – a memoir, told in graphic novel form, of the author’s own journey of realizing their nonbinary and asexual identity – was “obscene.” Argued that the statute was unconstitutional both facially and as-applied, and that the petition failed to state a claim under Virginia law. The Court agreed and found that the book could not be considered “obscene” under state law, as well as that the statute was unconstitutional in violation of due process and the First Amendment.
Beat Force Majeure Claims and Secured $3 Million in Damages in Pandemic-Driven Dispute
Represented WideOpenWest, a cable TV, internet and phone provider, before a panel of arbitrators on dueling breach of contract claims after WideOpenWest terminated its agreement with ad partner Viamedia in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the arbitration, Viamedia contended that the pandemic, as a force majeure event, excused its failure to pay WideOpenWest. The panel found Viamedia liable for breach of contract and awarded WideOpenWest nearly $3 million in damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
