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I believe in big picture explanations. Understanding the broad picture helps understand why the details are important. It helps see where the puzzle pieces fit and why they are necessary. If a person does not understand why something is necessary, it is much easier to rebel against the directive. For instance, if you tell a child “because I said so” as the reason they should not do something, that does not create any incentive or understanding as to why they… Read More

VTA Safety & HR Council Presents: Impact of Virginia's New Marijuana Laws on Motor Carriers Thursday, June 3, 2021 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. With updated laws taking effect July 1, 2021, Steve Setliff of Setliff Law and Kim Claytor of Nationwide Testing Association, Inc. will guide you through what you need to know so you can understand the laws and how they may impact your substance abuse policies. Topics include: --Medical Marijuana vs. CBD Products – what is the difference?… Read More

According to a survey by The American Trucking Associations, truckers in some states are experiencing a rise in excessive overages for non-consensual or “predatory” tows following the scene of a crash. These predatory practices wreak havoc on motor carries and insurance companies who are responsible for paying these outrageous towing and storage charges. Since there is no federal law on this issue, this area is left open for state regulation; however, many states lack legislation (or have significant shortfalls) to… Read More

In May of 2020, the Commonwealth of Virginia decriminalized marijuana, reducing criminal penalties for possession of marijuana to civil offenses. This change in marijuana law comes just a few years after Virginia passed laws authorizing marijuana for medical use and establishing a licensing system for producers/processors in the Commonwealth. In early 2021, the Virginia legislature passed a bill to legalize marijuana. Specifically, the bill eliminates criminal penalties for simple possession, provides an expungement process for those with prior convictions, and… Read More

Virginia has some of the most landlord-friendly eviction proceedings available in the nation. Virginia permits a landlord (either commercial or residential) to pursue eviction and past due rent in a single combined action filed in General District Court, known as an “Unlawful Detainer.” To understand the odd nature of an Unlawful Detainer action, understand that Virginia’s legal history, as with the United States’s legal history generally, emerged out of the British legal distinction between courts of law (which awarded money… Read More

In case you missed the news, Virginia is weighing potential locations for six casinos throughout the Commonwealth, including in Richmond - the first (legally authorized) casinos to ever be built in Virginia. Your first thought might be, “I thought casinos were in Vegas or on riverboats - when did gambling become legal here?” And no, this isn’t an article about the recent market volatility and use of risky options contracts to bet on the ebb and flow of the American… Read More

To say that environmental tort claims often (and perhaps usually) involve an irritant in the environment to which a plaintiff is exposed over a long period of time is hardly a remarkable insight – anyone who has ever dealt with claims of personal injury resulting from exposure to lead paint, asbestos, fuel leaks, radon gas, sulfurous off-gassing from drywall, or other environmental contaminants or irritants is well familiar with that fact. In such cases, it is not unusual for the… Read More

Sure, there are a lot of dangerous occupations, (i.e., logging, roofing, and construction). However, the transportation industry remains one of the most common and deadliest occupations according to a 2019 study by the Bureau of Labor and the latest federal data on workplace deaths. With increased reliance on the trucking industry to meet heightened demands due to the rise of online shopping and meeting COVID-19 needs, more truckers on the road could contribute to higher incident rates and driver deaths.… Read More