FIRM NEWS & PRESS

News - News Archive -  Press

Because the results obtained in specific cases depend on a variety of factors unique to each case, past case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in future cases undertaken by a lawyer or law firm.

News & Press

• 7-7-10 - For almost 100 years Marks & Harrison has represented Virginia families during the most vulnerable times of their lives— after they have suffered a serious personal injury. During this time the Firm has grown to be one of the largest personal injury firms in the South. Marks & Harrison is pleased that four members of its team have been recognized in Super Lawyers®. This distinction is possible only through the hard work of all the lawyers and staff who contribute to the Firm’s success every day.

  

• 6-4-10 - The Southern Trial Lawyers Association published Top 10 Mistakes a Plaintiff’s Lawyer Makes by John C. Shea. The article was published in the First Quarter 2010 edition of JUSTLAW.
• 5-1-10 - Marks & Harrison employees participated in the 5th annual ASK Fun Walk and 5K. ASK is a non profit organization that provides financial, spiritual, social, and emotional support to children with cancer.
• 4-1-10 - Marks & Harrison attorneys and staff collected clothes during the month of March for the Petersburg First Baptist Church Clothes Closet Ministry. Attorney Kevin M. McGowan along with church pastors and volunteers organized the event. Marks & Harrison is proud to work with the church and help with their ongoing community support efforts.
• 3-31-10 - Marks & Harrison sponsored a table at a luncheon given by Central Virginia Legal Aid Society to honor its Executive Director Henry McLaughlin upon his retirement. The luncheon was held at the Richmond Marriott.
• 3-25-10 - John C. Shea spoke, as he has for the last several years, at The Bridge the Gap Seminar for the Virginia State Bar. Mr. Shea spoke to recent law graduates on the topic of civil litigation in state courts in Virginia.
• 3-8-10 - Andrea J. Geiger was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court on March 8, 2010. Along with Andrea, Marks & Harrison attorney Allen Schreiber is also admitted to practice in the Supreme Court.
• 3-3-10 - Marks & Harrison Attorney Publishes Article In VTLA Journal on Handling Settlements Involving Minors Facing court approval for settlement of a case involving a minor may seem to be nothing but a routine inconvenience. As with many other aspects of trial practice, however, procedures vary from court to court and judge to judge. In a newly published article, "How To Handle Infant Settlements," Marks & Harrison attorney Joanna L. Suyes provides information that will suffice in almost any court.
  Suyes' article appeared in The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Volume 21 Number 4, 2010.
• 3-1-10 - Joanna L. Suyes and John D. Ayers presented Marks & Harrison’s teen drinking and driving safety program, Make It Home, at Lloyd C. Bird High School. J. Penn Crawford also volunteered his time by attending Read Across America day at Chickahominy Middle School.
• 2-18-10 - Andrea J. Geiger judged two rounds of the Barnett Moot Court Competition at the University of Richmond.
• 2-18-10 - John C. Shea attended the Southern Trial Lawyers Association Winter Conference in New Orleans on February 11, 12 & 13, 2010. At this conference, attorneys from the traditional southern states met to attend seminars on all aspects of trial practice. John C. Shea serves on the Board of Governors of the Southern Trial Lawyers of Virginia.
• 2-15-10 - James Mick Kessel served as a judge for the 2010 Spong Moot Court Tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia this past weekend. Mr. Kessel was one of only 12 Virginia attorneys who were selected to serve on the panel. The rest of the panel was composed of 23 actual judges from 7 states and the District of Columbia. The judges on the panel included State Judges, Federal Judges, US Court of Appeals Judges, State Courts of Appeals Judges, and State Supreme Court Justices. This is the third year in a row that Mr. Kessel was asked to help judge the tournament.
• 2-8-10 - Jack C. Gould and John D. Ayers attended the 2010 American Association for Justice Winter Convention in Maui. The convention was attended by attorneys from around the county and hosted seminars on new techniques and future strategies for advanced practitioners to better represent their clients.
• 2-4-10 - James Mick Kessel was appointed to the Judicial Committee of the Henrico County Bar Association.
• 2-4-10 - James Mick Kessel has achieved the ranking “Superb” by the lawyer rating service AVVO. “Superb” is the highest attorney ranking given by AVVO. AVVO’s attorney rankings are based on the lawyer’s years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements and industry recognition. www.avvo.com/attorneys/23255-va-james-kessel-1813314.html
• 2-3-10 - On Wednesday, February 3, 2010, James Mick Kessel joined with several members of Spotts Fain law firm to prepare and serve an Italian meal to the guests of Hospital Hospitality House. The meal included several homemade dishes such as Fettuccini Alfredo, Eggplant Parmesan, Rigatoni, Spaghetti, Italian Soup and Ravioli with Meat Sauce. After dinner the guests were treated to various yummy deserts. We hope the meal provided the guests with a little taste of home and that they and their loved ones get well soon.
  Hospital Hospitality House is located at 612 East Marshall Street in Richmond and "provides lodging and non-medical services to families and individuals in medical crisis. Guests are referred from physicians, staff and social workers from area hospitals... Referred families are served with dignity, integrity and without regard to financial resources."
  Hospital Hospitality House Website: www.hhhrichmond.org/hhh/
• 1-28-10 - Andrea J. Geiger attended the VTLA Justice Day lobbying Virginia Legislator to support a bill that would encourage an injured party's own automobile insurer to resolve their case more promptly.
• 1-15-10 - Jack C. Gould was named the Legal Counsel to the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
• 12-01-09 - James Mick Kessel participated in NBC’s No Bills Night. James, along with other members of the Young Lawyers Conference and the Virginia State Bar, offered legal advice to NBC viewers across Richmond.
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• 11-30-09 - Eric D. Yost and James Mick Kessel were reappointed to the American Association of Justice N.L.D. Board of Governors for the 2009-2010 year. Joanna Suyes has also been appointed to serve on the N.L.D. Board of Governors for the 2009-2010 year.
• 11-10-09 - Gregory S. Hooe and John C. Shea attended the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association’s Retreat on Understanding and Proving Pain held on November 6 and 7, 2009i Thirty lawyers from around Virginia gathered at the Tides Inn in Irvington to hear doctors and other experts discuss pain—its causes and treatment—as well as the best ways to prove its existence to a jury.
• 11-5-2009 - Joanna L. Suyes presented the Make it Home Program at Louisa High School. Marks & Harrison is proud to conduct their safe driving program for the first time at Louisa High School.
• 10-30-09 - James Mick Kessel attended the American Association for Justice N.L.D. Board of Governors business meeting in Washington, D.C.
• 10-29-09 - Congratulations to Gregory S. Hooe who was elected President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Virginia Chapter. ABOTA is an invitation-only organization whose members must have five or more years experience as trial lawyers and must have tried at least 10 civil jury trials to conclusion. Members must also exhibit a high level of integrity and professionalism as trail lawyers. Through the activities of local chapters, ABOTA provides education on the value and history of trial by jury and elevates the standards of legal professionalism.
• 10-23-09 - Kevin M. McGowan attended the American Association for Justice Mega Seminar: Overcoming Jury Bias, "Rules of the Road," and Damages with David Ball, Ph.D. in Las Vegas, NV.
• 10-12-09 - Andrea Geiger and James Kessel were honored to serve as judges for the 2009 Carrico Moot Court Competition at the T.C. Williams School of Law. James was also asked to serve as a judge in the finals of the competition.
• 10-05-09 - The American Association for Justice has put together a video of 2008-2009 media highlights of the civil justice system. The video can be viewed at www.justice.org/multimedia.
• 9-04-09 - John C. Shea has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Personal Injury Litigation. For over a quarter of a century, Best Lawyers has been regarded, by both the profession and the public, as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. Selection to Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 2.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country. Because no fee or purchase is required, being listed in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
• 8-21-09 - Eric D. Yost and James Mick Kessel were appointed to the American Association for Justice N.L.D. Fundraising Committee.
• 8-15-09 - James Mick Kessel was appointed to the American Association for Justice Marketing & Client Service Committee.
• 8-14-09 - John C. Shea spoke on Friday, August 14, 2009 in Charlottesville, Virginia for Virginia CLE on the subject of civil discovery of expert witnesses.
• 8-7-2009 - Paris M. Ratliff receives Marks & Harrison’s scholarship. Each year Marks & Harrison presents the Marks & Harrison Scholarship to a law student at the T.C. Williams School of Law who is interested in a career in personal injury. Paris graduated from The University of Virginia in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. At the T.C. Williams School of Law, Paris is a Senior Staff Member for the Richmond Journal of Law and Technology and a member of the Black Law Students Association. She has also competed in the Client Counseling Competition and Barnett Moot Court.
• 8-3-2009 - Penn Crawford presented Marks & Harrison's Make It Home Program at Open High School.  Marks & Harrison has conducted this program at Open High School for 3 years.
• 7-29-2009 - James Mick Kessel, Bridget N. Long, Dean C. Marcus, James A. McCauley, Joanna L. Suyes, and Eric D. Yost attended the American Association for Justice 2009 Annual Convention in San Francisco, CA. Along with educational programs, Marks & Harrison attorneys had the opportunity to attend speeches from Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Bob Menendez, and Congressman Henry Waxman.
• 7-27-2009 - James Mick Kessel and Eric D. Yost attended the American Association for Justice N.L.D. Board of Governors business meeting in San Francisco, CA.
• 7-22-2009 - Marks & Harrison sponsored Tappahannock's annual RivahFest that took place Saturday, June 20. This marks the 4th year Marks & Harrison has partnered with Essex County and other local businesses to help support the festival.
• 7-12-2009 - Bridget N. Long co-chaired the Tenth Annual VTLA Advanced Auto Retreat held on July 10 & 11, 2009 at the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville and gave a presentation on using Facebook and other social networking sites in a personal injury practice. This program brings together experienced attorneys from around the state to discuss the latest techniques in representing victims injured in automobile crashes. Fletcher Harkrader, James McCauley, and John C. Shea from Marks & Harrison attended this retreat.
• 6-1-2009 - Marks & Harrison joined other individuals and law firms in sponsoring a luncheon for Congressman Glen Nye of Virginia's Second Congressional District. The luncheon was held on Tuesday, June, 2, 2009 in Richmond, Congressman Nye serves on the Armed Services committee, the Veteran's Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee, James G. Harrison, III attended the luncheon on behalf of the Firm.

• 6-1-2009 - New Kent Youth Association Baseball NKYA Baseball is a volunteer organization that strives to build confidence, citizenship and positive character in our youth. Marks & Harrison is proud to be a part of New Kent Youth Association Baseball.

  

• 5-30-2009 -James Mick Kessel served as a volunteer at the Richmond Animal League's annual Woofstock Charity Event in Richmond, VA. Over 2,000 people lined the streets of historic Monument Avenue to support the rescue and adoption efforts of Richmond Animal League.
• 5-29-2009 - Attorneys from Marks & Harrison participated in the Virginia College of Trial Advocacy held at the University of Richmond. John C. Shea, Penn Crawford, James Mick Kessel, Greg Hooe, and Jack Gould participated in this hands on program which focuses on advanced trial tactics and honing legal skills in the courtroom.
• 5-28-2009 - Marks & Harrison was a sponsor at the Virginia Poverty Law Center's 30th Anniversary Reception held on Thursday, May, 28, 2009 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  This gala honored Jack L. Harris and Jill A. Hanson, two of the founding board members.
  Governor Tim Kaine and First Lady Anne Holton spoke at the celebration. The Virginia Poverty Law Center provides advocacy on behalf of  Virginia's low income residents.
• 5-12-2009 - James Mick Kessel spent the day working for the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society on its annual fundraising drive. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society is a non-profit organization providing free legal advice and representation to low income or elderly persons in five cities and 15 counties in central Virginia. Offices are located in Richmond, Petersburg, and Charlottesville.
• 5-12-2009 - John C. Shea attended a two and a half day meeting in Chicago to review the latest in management issues for personal injury law firms. Law firms attended from all areas of the country including Houston, New Orleans, Louisville, Las Vegas, St. Louis, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh.
  Marks & Harrison is the only law firm in Virginia invited to participate in this select group of law firms dedicated to representing those who have been injured.
• 5-1-2009 - Marks & Harrison is a proud supporter of the Central Virginia Foodbank. The foodbank provides more than 5 meals for every $1 donation. The extraordinary work done by the Central Virginia Foodbank ensures that the children in Central Virginia have enough to eat.
• 4-29-2009 - James Mick Kessel participated in Richmond Public Schools' Prom Safety Awareness Day. Marks & Harrison participated in the event along with the Virginia State Police, Richmond City Police Department, and Drive Smart Virginia to stress the importance of not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• 4-28-2009 - Marks & Harrison hosted an open house at their new Fredericksburg office. Lawyers, staff, family, and friends of Marks & Harrison were in attendance. The Fredericksburg office is located at 5440 Jefferson Davis Highway and is one of eight offices located throughout Virginia.
• 4-25-2009 - Marks & Harrison congratulates Emily Pemberton and James Mick Kessel for participating in the ASK Fun Walk and 5K for Cancer Research. This annual event raises money to help fund childhood cancer research and better children's lives.

• 3-31-2009 - James A. McCauley and John C. Shea along with their wives, attended the “Shinning Knights Gala” to benefit the VCU Medical Center Trauma Program. This program which was sponsored by Marks & Harrison along with Owens & Minor, Lifenet, Virginia Blood Services, and other sponsors was held at the Commonwealth Club. This event sought to raise funds for the extraordinary work done by the trauma program at the VCU Medical Center.

  This sponsorship by Marks & Harrison is one in a long line of contributions by Marks & Harrison to the work of VCU Medical Center. Marks & Harrison has donated funds to renovate the waiting area and a conference room in the Neuroscience Intensive Care unit at MCV. The Firm is also contributed monies to renovate the patient treatment areas in the Neuroscience Intensive Care unit where the most seriously brain and spinal cord patients are treated. In addition the Firm has co-sponsored with the nurses at MCV a safety program directed at teenage drinking and driving.

  Finally, attorneys at Marks & Harrison has been invited to speak to the neurosurgical residents at MCV Hospital at MCV Medical school on the role of attorneys and their interaction with physicians.

  3-30-09 - Congratulations to J.R. Davis, James Mick Kessel, Bridget N. Long, James A. McCauley, and John C. Shea for completing the Monument Avenue 10K. This year marked the 10^th anniversary of the race that has been voted the best road race in the Southeast.

• 3-27-09 - James Mick Kessel served as a judge for the 2009 Merhige Environmental Law Competition at University of Richmond.
• 3-24-2009 - John C. Shea attended the Torts Made Perfect seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 18, 19, & 20, 2009. Attorneys from around the county attended the program to address the newest techniques in personal injury litigation.
• 3-21-09 - Marks & Harrison congratulates James Mick Kessel for finishing the 2009 SPCA's Dog Run 5K. In 2009 this event raised more than $108,000 for the orphaned animas cared for by the Richmond SPCA.
• 3-16-2009 - Marks & Harrison co-hosted a reception during the Virginia Trial Lawyers Convention for Iowa Congressman, Bruce Bailey. Congressman Bailey is a former President of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association and a two-term Congressman for Iowa who is working hard to protect the rights of consumers and injured parties.
• 3-14-2009 - Andrea J. Geiger was invited to speak at the 50th Annual Convention of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Andrea spoke in Williamsburg, Virginia on March 13, 2009 on the topic of immunity and police chase cases. Andrea was invited to speak on this topic as a result of excellent work she had done in obtaining recovery for a young man who lost his leg as a result of a crash caused by a police officer involved in a high speed chase.
• 3-12-2009 - Joanna Suyes took part in a Spanish-language immersion program in Mexico during the last week of February. Desiring to improve upon her Spanish skills in order to better represent her Spanish-speaking client, Suyes attended the week-long program at The Center for Linguistic Multicultural Studies at Universidad International in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The high-impact intensive program, which was tailored specifically for attorneys, consisted of 9.5 hours per day of one-on-one instruction in grammar, vocabulary and conversation and included the opportunity to live with a local host family to enable her to practice what she learned in class in a more-relaxed, less-structured setting. Suyes looks forward to using her new skills to more effectively communicate with her Latin-American clients. Including Joanna Marks & Harrison has two attorneys and two paralegals fluent in Spanish.
• 3-5-2009 - John C. Shea spoke for the fifth time to the Virginia State Bar "Bridge The Gap Seminar." Mr. Shea spoke to young lawyers about practice in the circuit courts of Virginia.
• 3-4-2009 - James Mick Kessel served as a judge for the University of Richmond's Barnett Moot Court Competition on March 4, 2009.

• 2-28-2009 - James Mick Kessel participated in the SCAN 5K on February 28, 2009 along with a little over 500 other runners. SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) works to provide the awareness, education, and support needed to reduce the occurrence of abuse and neglect committed against children. Marks & Harrison proudly sponsored and supported this event by distributing t-shirts, cups, goodie bags, binders, and handouts.

      

• 2-27-2009 - John C. "Jack" Gould, James Mick Kessel, and J. Penn Crawford attended the American Association for Justice "Litigating Truck Collision Cases" seminar in Nevada on February 20- February 22, 2009. The seminar included topics such as a review and update of all the latest federal regulations, essential document discovery, details of a level I truck inspection, neuropsychological issues and traumatic brain injury, direct examination of a trucking expert, and more.
• 2-20-2009 - Marks & Harrison is proud to have contributed $250.00 to the Rappahannock Legal Services, Inc. (RLS). The contribution will aid in providing free civil legal services to the poor.
• 2-18-2009 - James Mick Kessel served as a judge for the 2009 Spong Moot Court Tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia. Mr. Kessel was one of only 9 Virginia attorneys who were selected to serve on the panel. The rest of the panel was composed of 26 actual judges from 9 states and the District of Columbia. The judges on the panel included State Judges, Federal Judges, US Court of Appeals Judges, State Courts of Appeals Judges, State Supreme Court Justices, and the Vice-Dean of William & Mary School of Law. This was the second year in a row that Mr. Kessel was asked to help judge the tournament.
• 2-16-2009 - Marks & Harrison is proud to have contributed $1,000 to the Virginia Fair Trial Project. Marks & Harrison understands it is important to have a strong, well-funded indigent defense system in Virginia. In the past six years VFTP and its partner organizations have been able to achieve a lot, including increased funding for court-appointed lawyers, fee waivers, standards of practice, a statewide court-appointed list, expansion of the Public Defender Commission into the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and the necessary funding so that public defender caseloads can be decreased.
• 2-12-2009 - Kevin M. McGowan and Joanna L. Suyes attended AAJ's Winter Convention in New Orleans, February 7-11, 2009. It offered networking opportunities, section meetings and seminars on Discovery, Muscle Sprain Cases, Holding the Insurance Industry Accountable, the Impact of the National Credit Crisis on the Practice of Law, Negotiation and Settlement Strategies, Motor Vehicle Collisions, Jury Bias, and Discovery in Pharmaceutical Cases and Damages.
• 2-05-2009 - John C. “Jack” Gould has received the “AV” Rating of “Highest Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards” from LexisNexis “Martindale-Hubbell” for 2009.
• 2-05-2009 - In a survey conducted by Virginia Lawyers Weekly Marks & Harrison was found to have settled more cases for $1,000,000 and up in 2008 than any other law firm in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marks & Harrison resolved six cases with settlement amounts exceeding $1,000,000 including one case for $5,000,000. These cases spanned all of central Virginia. Four of those cases were handled by John C. Shea, one by Fletcher W. Harkrader, and one by Gregory S. Hooe. While all the Firm’s cases, whether large or small, are important, the Firm is particularly proud of this achievement for those who were most seriously injured.

• 2-05-2009 - John D. Ayers and J. Penn Crawford presented the Make It Home Program at L.C. Byrd High School on January 29-30. Marks & Harrison has sponsored this teen drinking and driving safety program for over 12 years. The program was initially launched in conjunction with nurses in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at the Medical College of Virginia.

  

  

  

• 1-26-09 - John C. "Jack" Gould was asked by the Mayor of the City of Hopewell and the Hopewell City Manager to serve on the City's Efficiency Committee to advise the Hopewell City Administration on ways to improve Hopewell City Government efficiency.  The committee is also made up of Hopewell Plant Managers, local bankers, builders and realtors.
• 1-23-09 - Andrea J. Geiger and Joanna L. Suyes presented the Make It Home Program at Thomas Jefferson High School on January 22-23.  Marks & Harrison has sponsored this teen drinking and driving safety program for over 12 years.  The program was initially launched in partnership with nurses in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at the Medical College of Virginia.
  
  
  
• 1-20-09 - Marks & Harrison along with the law firm of Nichols Zauzig Sandler P.C. sponsored a reception for the American Association of Justice on Thursday, January 15, 2009. Executive Director Jon Haber and lobbyists Linda Lipsen traveled to Richmond to speak to a group of selected attorneys from the central Virginia area about the work of the AAJ and the changes that can be anticipated in the civil justice system after the election of President Barack Obama.
  
  
  
• 1-19-09 - James Mick Kessel and J. Penn Crawford attended the Interstate Trucking Litigation Group's conference on Litigating Truck Collision Cases in Las Vegas, NV. This intensive two day seminar featured faculty from across the United States and covered all the recent developments in trucking law as well as new trial tactics specific to tractor trailer cases.
• 1-9-09 - John D. Ayers presented a speech on "Effective Document Control and Organization" and "Powerful Discovery Techniques" at the Institute for Paralegal Education's seminar on "A Litigation Paralegal's Guide to Case Management".

News Archive

• News Archive: 2008
• News Archive: 2007
• News Archive: 2006
• News Archive: 2005

Press

• In a groundbreaking case the United States Supreme Court sided with 1,424 Family Dollar Stores, Inc. employees represented by attorney J. Allen Schreiber of Marks & Harrison in their claim against their employer. The Plaintiffs were awarded $35.6 million in back wages. With interest the judgment is over $42 million. 
• "John C. Shea, John D. Ayers, Bridget N. Long and Andrea J. Geiger Named 2009 Super Lawyers”
• "The Ten Worst Insurance Companies in America" - American Association for Justice
• Marks & Harrison Brief Amicus Curiae filed on behalf of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association on October 2, 2006, in support of trial court's award of monetary penalties against a Ford Motor Company lawyer whom the trial court found filed defenses for which the trial court found the Ford lawyer lacked a sufficient good faith basis in fact and law. Click here for the Ford v Benitez opinion and here for the Ford Motor v Benitez, VTLA Amicus Brief
• Decision Allowing Plaintiff to Recover Full Amount of Medical Bills Despite Medicaid Write-offs
• Day-In-The-Life Videos: How to Make Sure the Jury Sees It All
• W.D. VA 2005 Opinion Rejects Write-Offs Argument in Medicaid Context
• Investigating Tractor-Trailer Wrecks
• Fibromyalgia: The Rodney Dangerfield of Medical Diagnoses
• Personal Injury: Case Evaluation and Selection
  
• Motor Carrier Is Liable For 'Independent Contractor'
  
• Just What is a Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement and Why Should I Care?
  
• Death Case Mediated For $1 million
• Role of Defense Neuropsychologists Should Be Limited Under Virginia Evidence Law
• VADA/VSCA Presentation on "Medical Expense Coverage From The Plaintiff¹s Perspective."
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, "Settling Auto Accident Claims."
• "Advertising Regulation in Virginia" Presentation to the Virginia Beach Bar Association.
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Evidence Seminar; Speaker on Demonstrative Evidence.
• Richmond Bar Association Bench Bar Panelist on "Pre-Trial Procedures."
• "Ethical Considerations In Solicitation In Virginia," The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "Use Of Neuropsychologists As Expert Witnesses," The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "How Insurance Companies Evaluate And Negotiate Settlement Of Automobile Accident Cases: What the Attorney Can Do To Maximize Recovery," The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "A Lawyer's Guide To Mediation Preparation," Presentation at the 1998 Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Convention.
• "Personal Injury By the Numbers," The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "Computer Animation-Dealing With The Stealth Witness," Vol. 9, No. 4 Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Journal.
• A Guide To The Preparation And Trial Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Cases; Published By The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "A Growing Number of Circuit Courts Reject Wrongdoer Attempts To Reap Windfall Benefits From Their Victims' Collateral Health Insurance," Vol. 11, No. 3 The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "The Collateral Source Rule Keeps Pandora's Box Of Health Insurance Write-off Issues Closed": Vol. V, No. 3 Virginia State Bar Litigation News.
• "Health Insurance Write-Offs Irrelevant Under Collateral Source Rule," Vol. 10, No. 3 The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
• "A Current Guide to Civil RICO in New York Federal Courts," 66 N.Y. St. B.J. 18.
• "U.S. Supreme Court Applies 'Operation or Management Test' to RICO Section 1962(c) Claim," 42 Va. Lawyer 16.
• "Public/Private Cooperation Not Barred By Constitution," 34 Va. Bar News 16.
• Note, "The Admissibility of Testimony Influenced by the Use of Hypnosis," 67 Va. L. Rev. 1203.
• "Role of Defense Neuropyschologists Should Be Limited Under Virginia Evidence Law," Vol. 14, No. 4, The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association 24.
• Seminar Presentation on Motions in Limine at Virginia Trial Lawyers Association May 2003 Tort Seminar.
• "Silencing the Witness," Vol. 14, No. 1 The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association 18.
• "The Post-Trial Perils of the 21-day and 30-day Rules," Vol. 12, No. 2 The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association 2.
• Seminar Presentation on Collateral Source Rule and Medical Expenses at the Annual Convention of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association on April 1, 2000, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
• Seminar Presentation on Marketing for the Small Law Firm at Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, October, 2003.
• "Trial Themes" Presentation at Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Advanced Auto Retreat, July, 2003.
• Presentation to Young Lawyers Section of the Richmond Bar Association on Trial Strategies, October, 2003.

Proudly Serving our Community as well as our Clients

Our philosophy hasn’t changed since 1911—clients come first, period. For us that means helping injured people and their families both within the courtroom and in the community. Marks & Harrison has a proud tradition of supporting community and charitable organizations. Each year, Marks & Harrison staff and attorney donate time and money to organizations that promote safety and help injured people.

Brain Injury Association of Virginia's 2008 Charity Golf Classic

Marks & Harrison contributed to a Hole Sponsorship of the 2008 BIAV Charity Golf Classic which takes place October 13th at the Independence Golf Club.

VCU Medical Center Trauma Program

Marks & Harrison donated to the Program's fundraising gala which will take place March 28th, 2009.  VCU Medical Center's Trauma Program is the fastest growing and one of the largest in Virginia.  It is one of two Trauma Programs in the state verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

March of Dimes

Marks & Harrison helped the Charlottesville community raise over $44,000 to aid in pediatric research.

Louisa Thunder

Louisa Thunder is the only girls fast pitch travel program in Louisa county, outside of school sports.

Enon Football & Cheerleading

After Enon found itself without money, or equipment, to field teams for the 2008 season, Marks & Harrison donated money to help the football team and cheerleaders purchase new equipment.

Historic Richmond Foundation

Marks & Harrison sponsored the Historic Richmond Foundation's Gala Celebration at the National Theater.

Along with the Historic Richmond foundation Marks & Harrison is a sponsor of the 2007 Art of Richmond show. The event will be held on May 3, 2007 at Planet Zero Art Center. The event will feature architectural salvage and vintage photographs of Richmond.

Richmond County Little League

Marks & Harrison is proud to sponsor a team in the Richmond County Little League for the 2007 season.

Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure

Marks & Harrison is proud to sponsor a team in the 10th Anniversary of the Komen Richmond Race for the Cure. The race will take place on May 12 on Brown's Island. "Events such as the Komen Richmond Race for the Cure® allow the Richmond Affiliate to support Komen's vision of a world without breast cancer and promote the promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing sciences to find the cures" (www.komenrichmond.org).

Tappahannock Rivah Fest

Marks & Harrison has partnered with the Tappahannock Rivah Fest. The firm will have a tent at the event providing drinks to those in attendance. The Rivah Fest will take place on June 16 in Tappahannock, VA.

Oliver White Hill Foundation

Marks and Harrison is pleased to have joined with a number of law firms and businesses in the Central Virginia area in sponsoring the celebration of the 100^th birthday of Oliver W. Hill on Friday, May 4, 2007. Oliver W. Hill is a legal legend having joined with other civil rights pioneers in pursuing civil rights litigation on behalf of African Americans in Virginia. The work of Oliver W. Hill led to greater rights for all American citizens and in August of 1999 Mr. Hill received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in America. In July of 2005 Mr. Hill was awarded the NAACP’s highest award, the Spingarn Medal.

VCU Children's Medical Center

On April 20, 2006 Marks & Harrison continued their support of the VCU Children's Medical Center by making a donation during a telethon hosted by CBS 6. With the centers 100,000 outpatient visits, 450 air and ground transports, 19,000 emergency room visits, 1,000 intensive care admissions, and 3,500 acute care admissions per year Marks & Harrison understands the importance of pediatric heath in Central Virginia. A video clip of of the telethon is available under Firm News & Press.

Rappahannock Legal Services, Inc.

On January 25, 2007 John C. Shea of Marks & Harrison made a donation to Rappahannock Legal Services, Inc. This non-profit corporation provides free civil legal services to those who are unable to afford needed legal assistance.

In Memoriam: Sarah Hearney

In 2004, the firm helped to establish grants in memory of a Marks & Harrison client killed in a trucking crash. Grants were given to two Petersburg organizations, the Crater Criminal Justice Society and the Progress-Index, in memory of Sarah Hearney. At the time of her tragic death, Ms. Hearney, age 25, had been a police officer for only one week and was a former reporter with the Progress-Index.

Make It Home - keeping high school students safe

The firm also continues its community service program “Make It Home” which is directed at reducing drinking and driving among high school students. This program has been shown to over 9,000 students throughout central Virginia. Marks & Harrison started “Make It Home” ten years ago in collaboration with nurses at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). Marks and Harrison attorneys, along with nurses from MCV, visit high schools with a presentation that includes a video and a contract that the students and their parents both sign. The student agrees to be responsible if they have chosen to drink, by not driving, and the parent agrees to ensure that their child gets home safely. If you would like more information about this program, please send an email to abarr@marksandharrison.com.

Brain Injury Association of Virginia

Marks & Harrison is a proud sponsor of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia. BIAV, uses support groups, education, referral assistance, outreach advocacy and public awareness to support survivors of brain injuries.

The Legal Information Network for Cancer (LINC)

Marks & Harrison continues to support LINC, the Legal Information Network for Cancer. LINC is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to helping people with the legal issues that arise from the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Through LINC, the attorneys of Marks & Harrison have assisted several individuals who are cancer patients with numerous non-medical issues relating to their condition. Marks & Harrison attorneys have aided these individuals on health insurance coverage issues, wills, financial support and Social Security Disability. The firm has been active in this program since its beginning in 1997. LINC offers free advocacy services to technical assistance to cancer patients to help them resolve non-medical problems that confront them during their cancer battles. If you are interested in learning more about this program, then call our office at 282-0999 or 1-800-283-2202 or contact LINC at 644-5462 or 877-644-LINC http://www.cancerlinc.org

Richmond Brain Tumor Support Group

Marks & Harrison is proud to support the Richmond Brain Tumor Support Group. The Group is a non-profit dedicated to providing support for brain tumor survivors and their loved ones, promoting awareness for brain tumor issues, and advocating for brain tumor research in Central Virginia. For more information visit their website at www.curebraintumor.org.

Charlottesville Parks & Recreation

Marks & Harrison has sponsored a Co-Rec Softball team for several season. The Marks & Harrison team has made the playoffs several times.

Charlottesville Free Clinic

Marks & Harrison has supported the Charlottesville Free Clinic through the donation of catered meals for volunteers. The Clinic "provides high quality health care to the 'working uninsured' who would otherwise have no access to care."

Central Virginia Legal Aid Society

"Founded in 1971, CVLAS' mission is, and has always been, the zealous legal representation without charge to low income or elderly clients in civil cases and to help the low income and elderly client community through preventive community legal education."

Virginia Fair Trial Project

Marks & Harrison supports the Virginia Fair Trial Project as part of the Bob Hall VTLA Board of Governors Challenge.  Our support will help keep the indigent defense reform movement alive so that all Virginians can have access to fair trials.

Greater Richmond Bar Foundation

Marks & Harrison has continued to support the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation for several years.  Our contributions help to provide legal service to the local nonprofit community through their Pro Bono Clearinghouse program, sponsor law-related educational and service projects.

If you would like the firm to consider a specific community service project, please send an email to lawyers@marksandharrison.com.