Jeffrey Swartz, Michael Goodove and Elizabeth Ufkes were selected as “Top Lawyers” by Coastal Virginia Magazine. They were recognized in the areas of criminal law, civil trial law and personal injury law. They were nominated by lawyers who vote for other lawyers who exemplify excellence in their specialties.
Inside Business Magazine, the Hampton Roads Business Journal has selected Attorney Elizabeth Ufkes as one of the Top 40 Under 40 for 2017.
Attorneys Michael Goodove, Franklin Swartz and Elizabeth Ufkes have been selected as 2017 Super Lawyers. Michael Goodove was selected as a Super Lawyer in the field of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury. Franklin Swartz was selected as a Super Lawyer in the field of White Collar Criminal Defense. Elizabeth Ufkes was selected as a Super Lawyer as a Rising Star in the field of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury. Only 5% of Virginia attorneys are chosen every year and Goodove, Swartz and Ufkes were selected based upon evaluation by other top lawyers and independent research of the candidates. Goodove, Swartz and Ufkes will be contained in the 2017 Super Lawyers Magazine as well as in the 2016 November/December issue of Hampton Roads magazine.
A Norfolk attorney says cities have every right under the law to relocate confederate monuments, even under state law code 15.2-1812, Memorials for War Veterans, which was amended in 1997.
NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — Over the last week people in Hampton Roads have been protesting for the removal and relocation of confederate monuments.
However, some say relocating these monuments would be illegal under state law.
Under state law code 15.2-1812, Memorials for War Veterans, which was amended in 1997:
“It shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials. For purposes of this section ‘disturb or interfere with’ includes removal of, damaging or defacing monuments or memorials.”
“But the issue has not been decided by the supreme court, if that issue is retroactive and that’s a fancy way of saying if the monument was erected before December 1, 1997 does this state statute have any affect,” said attorney Michael Goodove.
“This doesn’t stop you that’s why you are seeing the governor come out in support of the municipalities and in support of relocation of some of the monuments,” said Goodove.
This issue has already gone before a judge in Danville, back in 2015, regarding another confederate monument erected before the law was amended.
“He determined that it did not prohibit a municipality from removing these memorials,” said Goodove.
Further explaining that he would not be surprised if people continue to sue over the removal of these confederate monuments and the issue eventually ends up in the state supreme court.
We’ve hit the prom and graduation season, a time for ordering caps and gowns, picking up corsages, and arranging for pictures.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) — We’ve hit the prom and graduation season, a time for ordering caps and gowns, picking up corsages, and arranging for pictures.
Maybe you’re planning a party. Perhaps you’re renting a beach house so teenagers can get together, celebrate, and share memories. If the plan includes the home rental, you might want to rethink it.
The discussion about Beach Week can get tricky. When it comes to the idea of renting a home for it, teenagers may argue: “What could possibly happen? Everyone’s parents are doing this. Didn’t you party at the beach with friends after you graduated from high school?”
“It’s a complicated issue,” one student told us. “They mean well. It doesn’t always go well, but high school graduation is a fun time.”
Keg stands Beer pong. Shots…lots of shots. Those are part of the celebration for a lot of students. Teens admit to drinking anything and everything, as well as having sex.
Attorney Michael Goodove said parents need to realize there are tough laws about renting beach houses for teenagers and their friends and some risks.
“I think people are crazy and somewhat stupid if they don’t pay attention to the legal ramifications of it,” Goodove told 13News Now, adding that if you rent a beach house for teens and there are alcohol and drugs there, you could be arrested and sent to jail.
There can be huge lawsuits that can leave you bankrupt. What if someone leaves the party drunk, or there’s a sexual assault?
“Parents sometimes need to act like parents and less like their kids,” Goodove stated.
In 2009, the Virginia Supreme Court weighed in on the issue, saying if parents are negligent in the duty of supervising someone else’s child, they can be held civilly responsible for damages.
Michele Tryon, a Parent Educator at The Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, said, “One of the things we know is that when they say they want to party with their friends, usually there’s some alcohol involved.”
Tyron noted that the subject of graduation parties can involve tough conversations for parents.
You might ask your teen to convince you it’s a good idea to go or ask him/her to explain to you how he/she will be safe. Some parents seem to go the opposite direction, considering supplying alcohol for the parties.
When it comes to teens who drink, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse reports 1.4 million teenagers engage in binge drinking. Six hundred twenty thousand have an alcohol use issue.
Parents who supply alcohol to children could be charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, which is a $2,500 fine and carries a potential jail sentence of one year. If there are 20 teenagers at a party for which you supplied alcohol, that’s 20 counts/charges.
Last year, Virginia Beach police officers cited 465 teens for having alcohol, including some in Sandbridge.
“As a parent, we have a duty to be a role model for our children, and we have a duty to not only follow the law but not to engage in dangerous or illegal behavior,” Goodove said.
Clearly, some teens today are choosing not to drink. Studies show about 50 percent don’t.
“Be sober and have fun. You don’t have to be drunk to have fun,” one teenager told 13News Now.
Beach Week may be a tradition for a lot of teenagers. Each year, inevitably, the tradition ends badly somewhere. How they choose to celebrate it and graduation, in general, will determine how — or if — they will be able to look back on the celebration.
