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Yes, a first-time DWI/DUI can be dismissed in Virginia. Dismissal turns on whether something in the Commonwealth’s case breaks, such as an unlawful stop, a missing element of proof, a breath test problem, or a procedural violation. Virginia has no first-offender diversion program that erases a DWI/DUI, so a favorable outcome depends on identifying a […]

Proving negligent security in Virginia means proving four things. First, that the property owner owed you a duty to protect you from being attacked by another person. Second, that the owner knew about the danger before you were attacked. Third, that the owner did not act on that knowledge. And fourth, that the failure to […]

If there’s a warrant out for your arrest in Virginia, a judicial officer has already signed an order telling law enforcement to arrest you. Before signing it, a magistrate or another judicial officer looked at a sworn complaint and decided there was probable cause to believe you committed a crime. The single most important thing […]

Virginia’s wrongful death statute (Va. Code § 8.01-50) gives surviving families a legal path to recover damages when someone dies because of another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. The statute defines who can file a claim, which family members are entitled to compensation, what types of damages are available, and how the recovery is […]

When someone is arrested in Virginia, the first decision about their freedom happens fast. A magistrate reviews the case within hours and decides whether to release the person, set a bond, or hold them in custody. Virginia law starts from a presumption that an accused person should be released on bail. The Commonwealth has to […]