Ask General Counsel: Should I join? What is a class action or mass tort?

Ask General Counsel: Should I join? What is a class action or mass tort?
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 10/25/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel,  the General Counsel, P.C. litigation team discusses what class actions and how they compare to a mass torts. Almost every day on television there is a commercial for a new class action lawsuit, talc in baby powder,
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Ask General Counsel: Estate planning lessons from Queen Elizabeth

Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 10/11/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, discusses estate planning lessons from Queen Elizabeth (and how her planning should be motivation for anyone that does not have a plan in place). Queen Elizabeth’s recent passing signals changes for the royal family. While most
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Ask General Counsel: Celebrity estate battle pits Anne Heche’s ex vs. her estranged son

Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 9/21/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this issue of Ask General Counsel, we discuss another lesson to be learned through celebrity estate mistakes. On Aug. 11, actress Anne Heche died unexpectedly at age 53 without a will or trust. She was taken off life support after only 48
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Ask General Counsel: Can federal or government contractor employees use marijuana?

Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 9/08/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, we discuss whether federal or government contractor employees can use marijuana.  Located in McLean, the attorneys of General Counsel, P.C. have been representing employers, non-profit entities, and individuals since 2004. While many states have enacted legislation
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Ask General Counsel: Top 5 employment law misunderstandings

Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 8/10/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, provided by the attorneys of General Counsel, P.C., we discuss the top five employment law misunderstandings. 1.     Virginia is a right-to-work state – so my employer cannot fire me, right? NO.  Being a “right to work” state has absolutely nothing to
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Ask General Counsel: 6 reasons NOT to serve as the registered agent for your business

Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 7/27/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, the business law attorneys at General Counsel, P.C., located in McLean, discuss why business owners should not serve as the registered agent for their business. Businesses in Virginia are required to have a registered office and registered agent.
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Ask General Counsel: What should I consider during a business divorce?

Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 7/19/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, the attorneys of General Counsel P.C., based in McLean, discuss what a business owner should consider when their business relationship fails. Business relationships fail for many different reasons: Business partners may have long-term disagreements, a change
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Ask General Counsel: Everything you need to know about the Johnny Depp trial to discuss at your next summer barbecue

Ask General Counsel: Everything you need to know about the Johnny Depp trial to discuss at your next summer barbecue
Published by Ask General Counsel on InsideNova, 6/7/2022 Image from Inside Nova In this edition of Ask General Counsel, we provide you an overview of the Johnny Depp / Amber Heard trial and verdict.  Ask General Counsel is bi-monthly column by General Counsel, P.C., a law firm based in McLean, Virginia, representing businesses, non-profits and individuals throughout
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Virginia Supreme Court Offers Additional Guidance on Defamation Standard

In Bryant-Shannon v. Hampton Roads Community Actions Program, Inc., the Virginia Supreme Court provided additional guidance on the requisite “sting” needed for a statement to be defamatory. The case lays out when a statement is “actionable” and provides examples of statements made in the workplace the court previously determined were not defamatory, because they didn’t
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Employer May Be Liable for Defamation for Making Statements to Former Employee’s New Employer

In a recent case, the Eastern District of Virginia found an employer may be liable for defamation after making allegedly false statements to a former employee’s new employer. The employer stated the employee was fired for insubordination, was a disgruntled former employee, and might sabotage their products. The employee claimed the statements were false and
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Johnny Depp helps to provide Guidance on What Defamatory Statements are “Actionable” in Virginia

Johnny Depp actionable defamation claims
John Depp, commonly known as “Johnny Depp,” filed suit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, claiming defamation based on four statements made in Heard’s op-ed in the Washington Post in December 2018.  The Fairfax County Circuit Court considered his defamation claims and determined which alleged defamatory statements were “actionable” providing valuable guidance.  For more information on
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