Spring 2022
Jurisdictional Limits and Minimum Motor Vehicle Insurance Coverage in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia
By Mark A. Kohl
VIRGINIA Minimum Liability/UIMInsurance CoverageProperty Damage/Single Claimant/Per Occurrence$20,000/$25,000/$50,000 (for claims arising before January 1, 2022$20,000/$30,000/$60,000 (for claims arising between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024)$25,000/$50,000/$100,000 (for claims arising after January 1, 2025)General District Court (GDC) Jurisdictional Limit$50,000 (was $25,000 prior to July 1, 2021)GDC Jury Demand/AppealNo right to demand a…
Recent Developments - Maryland
Contributory Negligence and Assumption of the Risk in Slip and Fall Cases
Maryland’s second highest court recently issued a decision that considered the affirmative defenses of contributory negligence (plaintiff failed to use reasonable care) and assumption of the risk (plaintiff knew and appreciated the risk of danger and voluntarily exposed herself). In Cador v. YES Organic Market Hyattsville, Inc., the plaintiff slipped…
Recent Developments - Virginia
Welcome to the Neighborhood – The Court of Appeals Jurisdiction Increases to Include Civil Case
On January 1, 2022, the jurisdiction of the Virginia Court of Appeals, Virginia’s intermediate appellate court, was expanded to include all civil matters. Previously, the Court of Appeals only heard criminal, worker’s compensation and domestic matters; civil cases could only be reviewed by the Virginia Supreme Court and only on…
Absolute Means Absolute . . . Except When it Doesn’t
In October 2021, the Supreme Court of Virginia held that absolute privilege “does not apply to non-defamation torts in Virginia, specifically including malicious abuse of process, tortious interference with contractual relations, and civil conspiracy.” Givago Growth, LLC v. iTech AG, LLC, 863 S.E.2d 684, 688 (Va. 2021). The Court also…
Recent Developments - District of Columbia
Apportionment in PPD Schedule Award
On January 27, 2022, The D.C. Court of Appeals addressed in Howard University Hospital, et al. v. D.C. Dep’t of Employment Servs. the issue of whether the 1998 Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act (“WCAA”) affects how much of an employee’s total permanent partial disability (“PPD”) schedule award must be compensated by…
About the Firm
About the Firm
DeCARO DORAN is very pleased to welcome Melissa H. Ryan, Michelle P. Alvarez, and Angelita (Angi) S. Buelken to the firm. Melissa Ryan is a native of Northern Virginia where she completed her undergraduate studies and graduated summa cum laude at George Mason University in 2012. Subsequently, she earned her…