In Payne v. Clark, No. 09-CV-1492 (D.C. Aug. 4, 2011), the D.C. Court of Appeals held that with respect to a defamation claim, a qualified common interest privilege protects statements made by citizens and other third parties who communicate in good faith with District agencies during an investigation into alleged misconduc… Read More

In Linton v. Evans, the Plaintiff, in an attempt to avoid the three year statute of limitations period, argued that limitations began to run when she learned that her cancer was “probably noncurable,” rather than when she first learned she had cancer. The plaintiff argued that her claim was timely filed on May 7… Read More

In Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company and Liberty Insurance Corporation v. Testerman, No. 1484-10-3 (Va. App. July 12, 2011), the Court considered the issue whether a furlough from work of pre-defined and limited duration, applicable to all manufacturing employees, both those with and without restricted work capacity, ju… Read More

In Howard University v. Wilkins, Nos. 09-CV-318, 09-CV-319, and 09-CV-544 (D.C. June 30, 2011), the Court affirmed the plaintiff’s verdict, in a District of Columbia Human Rights Act action for retaliation, of $1.00 in compensatory damages, and $42,677.50 in punitive damages. The plaintiff had alleged that Howard Univ… Read More

Ruffin Hotel Corporation of Maryland, Inc. v. Gasper, changed the common understanding as to the applicability of Rule 404(b) in civil cases. In that case, a hotel employee brought suit against her former employer following her termination. The Complaint contained claims for sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge. Plai… Read More

Solesky v. Tracey seemingly expanded a landowner’s potential liability for the damages caused by tenant’s pets. That case concerned a landlord’s liability for the mauling of a boy by a tenant’s pit bull. In 2006, the landlord rented her property to two tenants. The lease included a provision allowing… Read More

In May of 2011, John Tremain May and Padraic Keane of Jordan Coyne & Savits, L.L.P. successfully defended a law firm in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”). The plaintiff alleged that the defendant… Read More

In Stevens v. United General Title Insurance Co. , 801 A.2d 61 (D.C. 2002), the Court reaffirmed the District of Columbia’s adherence to the “eight corners rule,” requiring a comparison of the complaint with the insurance policy to determine the existence of a duty to defend. “Under [the ‘eight… Read More