Book Your Annual Meeting Hotel Room, Paralegal Seminar Now In-Person, VADA Night at the Tides, and more.

VADA Defense Line
June 2025

VADA Night at the Norfolk Tides

July 29
Gates open at 5:30 PM
First pitch at 6:35 PM

Rain Date: July 30th
Second Rain Date: 
July 31th

The Tidewater Region is excited to invite all VADA members to Harbor Park in Norfolk! Meet, chat, and cheer on the Tides as they take on the Memphis Redbirds!

Bring a guest—whether it’s a coworker, friend, or family member! 

Please RSVP by Tuesday, July 15, to secure your spot. Seats are limited, so early registration is recommended. 

See you at the ballpark!

Now In-Person with
an Updated Agenda

September 4
Atlas 42
Henrico, Virginia

A must-attend event for paralegals of all levels working in civil defense firms. This one-day seminar is designed to hone your skills as a valuable member of your legal team.

We are finalizing the meeting agenda and registration will open soon, but the draft agenda is posted and the hotel booking link is live on the meeting website, so book your hotel now. 

You don't want to miss out on 9.0 CLE hours (pending) and multiple social opportunities.

Attention Members!

Are you interested in a VADA leadership position?  Consider serving as vice chair of the Appellate Advocacy Section. You don't need to do appellate work but simply have an interest in the many recent appellate decisions. As vice chair, you will enjoy increased exposure to the organization and the section; an invitation to VADA Board Meetings; opportunities to share in the decision-making on CLEs and events; and unlimited professional support from fellow members.

Contact Sherma Mather at smather@vada.org
to learn more.

Many important legislative changes will go into effect on July 1, 2025.  Please click here for the list of changes pertinent to civil defense practice and advise your colleagues and clients. 

If you are interested in assisting in VADA’s legislative efforts, have feedback regarding any proposed legislation bills of interest, or are interested in attending our General Assembly Day, please reach out to Megan Wagner, attorney at KPM law at megan.wagner@kpmlaw.com or Patrick O’Grady, attorney at Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, at pogrady@tthlaw.com.

The Journal of Civil Litigation

Do not miss the Summer 2025 edition of The Journal of Civil Litigation!  It includes 10 judicial opinions and four feature articles:

  • Ashley Davoli discusses how lawyers in Virginia can best use artificial intelligence, and in particular, large language models.
  • Leah Han examines the tension between the Virginia FOIA and employee privacy, and the evolution of the personnel exemption.  
  • Yevgeniy K. Klinovskiy addresses the covenant of quiet enjoyment, and how lessees can use it as both shield and sword.
  • Kambria Lannetti Talley analyzes the effects of bankruptcy on tort litigation, including application of the collateral source rule.

Many thanks to Managing Editor, Molly Terry; Editor-in-Chief, Kent Sinclair; the Board of Editors; and Chair of the Board of Editors, John D. Eure for consistently producing such a quality journal. 

VADA members receive the Journal as a benefit of membership and can search current and past journals, including by keyword, on our website.

Last call for renewals! On June 30, all non-renewed members will be lapsed. If you have questions about your membership status, reach out to Executive Director Sherma Mather at smather@vada.org for more information. We don’t want to lose you!

Michael Blake
Wharton Levin

Lori Lohr
Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman

William Stanley
TimberlakeSmith

The Women’s Section is excited to announce that we will be making sea glass art for the Women’s Section Event at the Annual Meeting!

Details will be provided in the coming weeks. 

Be sure to bookmark VADA Upcoming Events so you don't miss out.

September 4
Paralegal Seminar
Henrico

October 22-24
Annual Meeting
Virginia Beach

December 5
Young Lawyers Boot Camp
Richmond

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

This Fort Knox, Kentucky, native and self-described Army brat longs to outwit, outplay, and outlast her competition.  (A weekend with no plans or “to do” list is a nice plus.)  For this, and much more, on this month’s VADA Spotlighted Member, click here.

The Power of Procedural Precision 

Andreya Steidl
McGavin, Boyce, Bardot, Thorsen & Katz, P.C. 

Defense wins often come down to knowing the rules and using them precisely. In Ramiro v. Kershner, No. 1158-24-4 (Va. Ct. App. June 10, 2025), the Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed the dismissal of a negligence claim where the plaintiff failed to serve within the statutory one-year window and then compounded the error by mishandling the appellate record.

The takeaway? Serve the rules, and they’ll serve you.

If you’re a young litigator, read on. If you’re a seasoned attorney, consider this a cautionary tale worth revisiting.

1. The One-Year Rule is Not a Suggestion

Virginia Code § 8.01-275.1 requires service within one year of filing. If not, the plaintiff must affirmatively prove “due diligence.” This is a high bar, and courts are rightfully skeptical of vague efforts or unexplained delays.

In this case, the defendant was not served until over fifteen months after filing, despite no clear explanation for the delay. The defendant moved to dismiss under Rule 3:5 and § 8.01-277(B), arguing that plaintiff failed to act with diligence. The circuit court agreed and dismissed the claim with prejudice.

2. The Appeal Failed Because the Record Did

Instead of filing a transcript of the dismissal hearing, the plaintiff attempted a written statement of facts—a risky substitute that must strictly comply with Rule 5A:8(c):

      Must be filed within 60 days of final judgment.

      Must include notice that the statement will be presented to the trial judge between 15 and 20 days after filing.

      Must be served on opposing counsel the same day it’s filed.

      Must be signed by the judge to be valid.

The plaintiff’s statement failed all of the above. Without a valid statement or transcript, there was no record of what was argued or decided and thus, nothing for the appellate court to review. The Court held that the plaintiff waived his assignment of error, and the dismissal was affirmed without oral argument.

Which brings us to the most satisfying sentence for a defense attorney to hear:

“We cannot consider the issue… Ramiro’s assignment of error is thus waived.”

3. Defense Strategy Takeaways

      Always preserve your wins.
If you secure a dismissal, build a record that can survive appeal. Here, the defense made sure the circuit court’s ruling was clear, factual, and firmly grounded in the plaintiff’s lack of diligence.

      Know how Rule 5A:8 works—for both sides.Appellants often misuse statements of facts, failing to utilize the proper procedure. Know the checklist cold and be ready to challenge any defects that prevent the record from being properly formed.

      Hold the plaintiff to their burden.The law requires diligence—don’t let vague claims of "trying" or "following up" substitute for documented, consistent service efforts.

4. Final Word: Let the Rules Work for You

Ramiro v. Kershner is a reminder that in civil litigation, technical missteps can be fatal, and good advocacy isn’t just about persuasive writing or good oral argument. It’s about knowing the rules and following them to the letter.

In defense litigation, that’s not just strategy. That’s survival.

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    VADA’S Mission

    The mission of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys is to develop and support Virginia attorneys engaged in a civil defense practice in the professional and ethical representation of their clients through education, communication and fellowship.

    Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
    11533 Busy Street, #327
    N. Chesterfield, VA  23236
    804-649-1002 | www.vada.org

    Executive Director: Sherma Mather
    Director of Meetings: Amy Gilbody
    Journal of Civil Litigation Managing EditorMolly Terry

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