Latest Virginia Headlines

All the headlines from our Virginia Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Judge Blasts West Virginia Medical Damages Cap

Jul 25 2011 // A West Virginia judge who helped West Virginia’s Supreme Court hear a recent medical malpractice case is blasting the outcome.First Circuit Judge Ronald Wilson dissented sharply on Friday with last month’s...

West Virginia Court Weighs Pollution Liability of Massey Subsidiary

Jul 25 2011 // Three judges hearing a coal slurry pollution lawsuit against Massey Energy are considering whether the parent corporation should be held liable for the actions of a subsidiary it claims operated independently.Massey...

West Virginia Extends Deadline for Insurer Bids on State Business

Jul 19 2011 // The deadline for insurers wanting to submit bids to write the workers’ compensation coverage for state agencies in West Virginia has been extended until October. West Virginia’s primary workers’...

Virginia Judge Nixes Part of $1 Billion Fly Ash Lawsuit

Jul 18 2011 // A group of Chesapeake residents plans to refile a $1 billion lawsuit against Dominion Virginia Power after a judge dismissed claims that fly ash used to build a golf course harmed their health and property. The lawsuit was...

West Virginia Moves Ahead with Plan for Business Court

Jul 18 2011 // The West Virginia Supreme Court has given a committee the go-ahead to design a new court system that would consider business-related lawsuits.Wayne County Circuit Judge Darrell Pratt, the committee’s chairman, said...

Counties Join West Virginia Risk Pool

Jul 18 2011 // In the wake of a decision by a West Virginia workers’ compensation insurer to drop its program for government agencies, more counties are lining up to join a risk pool.County governments throughout the state are...

Man Pleads Guilty to Torching Virginia Motel Twice

Jul 14 2011 // A former employee has pleaded guilty to setting two fires at a motel in Ashland, Virginia that caused $2 million in damage. Media outlets report that 23-year-old Jose Antonio Ramirez faces up to life in prison when...

West Virginia Receives Funds to Demolish Flood-Prone Homes

Jul 8 2011 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $1.2 million to West Virginia’s Wayne County to acquire and tear down flood-prone homes. Rep. Nick Rahall announced the hazard mitigation grant. The West Virginia...

Report Faults DuPont in West Virginia Worker’s Death

Jul 7 2011 // Chemical maker DuPont failed to promptly inform emergency crews about a phosgene leak that killed a worker last year, according to a U.S. government report released Thursday.The report by the Chemical Safety Board (CSB), a...

West Virginia Firefighters Get Insurance Premium Subsidy Check

Jul 7 2011 // A volunteer fire department in Kanawha County has become the first in West Virginia to receive a rebate check to cover the costs of higher premiums for workers’ compensation insurance.The check for $1,638 was...

West Virginia Firefighters’ Relief

Jul 4 2011 // West Virginia’s volunteer fire departments looking to offset increases in their workers’ compensation premiums can now apply for help on a website launched by state Auditor Glen Gainer. “Volunteer...

Federal Report: Coal Dust, Deception in Fatal West Virginia Mine Blast

Jun 30 2011 // The blast that killed 29 men in a West Virginia coal mine last year was probably caused by coal dust ignition, compounded by safety failings, intimidation and deception by the mine’s owner, the U.S. mine regulator...

More West Virginia Counties Join Workers’ Compensation Pool

Jun 30 2011 // In the wake of a decision by a West Virginia workers’ compensation insurer to drop its program for government agencies, more counties are lining up to join a risk pool.County governments throughout the state are...

Virginia County to Charge for Ambulance Trips

Jun 22 2011 // Virginia’s Prince William County plans to begin charging health insurance companies for ambulance trips.On July 1, the county will start billing insurance companies when a patient is taken to the hospital by its...

Riley Named West Virginia Acting Insurance Commissioner

Jun 21 2011 // West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced that Michael D. Riley will serve as acting state insurance commissioner effective July 1. Current Commissioner Jane L. Cline will retire as of June 30 after 10 years in the...

West Virginia Offers Firefighters Relief on Workers’ Compensation

Jun 20 2011 // West Virginia’s volunteer fire departments looking to offset anticipated increases in their workers’ compensation insurance premiums can turn to a website launched by the state auditor’s office.Auditor...

Coal Industry Blasts Safety Rules

Jun 20 2011 // Coal industry officials have roundly criticized two sets of new safety rules proposed by federal regulators following an explosion that killed 29 West Virginia miners last year.The West Virginia Coal Association and Alpha...

Average Long Term Care Liability Claim Rising: Aon Study

Jun 17 2011 // Long term care liability costs are rising because the average claim size is increasing even as claim frequency declines.There has been a four percent increase in the average claim size, according to research by Aon Risk...

West Virginia Reports State Agencies’ Workers’ Compensation Data

Jun 17 2011 // State figures show the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety had the worst workers’ compensation record among state agencies over the past five years.The department had $10.8 million in...

Virginia Governor Signs School Safety Legislation

Jun 17 2011 // Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed legislation designed to improve school safety.The new laws signed Tuesday make it illegal for sex offenders to be on school buses and allows video cameras to be installed on them, and...