Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Reckless Driving Defenses in Virginia
If you are charged with reckless driving in Virginia, it does not mean that you will automatically be convicted. It is up to the Commonwealth of Virginia to prove that all of the elements of the specific kind of reckless driving charged have been met. There are many defenses to reckless driving, and a… Read More »
Virginia Police Using New Technology to Predict Crimes
It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie: police departments able to predict when and where crimes are going to happen before they are even committed. However, it is not fiction; it is reality for Virginia police departments. According to a CBS News affiliate, Suffolk Police Department is using this technology to… Read More »
Virginia Drug Laws
Virginia is known for having harsh drug laws. In Virginia, as in many other states, drugs are divided into “schedules,” with the charges and penalties based on which schedule the drugs are in. This article gives a brief overview of Virginia’s drug laws including what schedule each drug is in, and what crimes you… Read More »
Firm Settles $3 Million Slip and Fall Case
Simms Showers attorney Timothy Bosson filed suit against Food Lion, LLC in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The Firm represented a woman who sustained extensive knee and back injuries due to a slip and fall incident at the grocery store. Simms Showers brought a $3 Million suit and settled for… Read More »
Firm Obtains $98K Jury Award for Race-Based Harassment
Simms Showers attorney Timothy Bosson filed a case in the Loudoun County Circuit Court, seeking recovery for a client who had been subjected to race discrimination and malicious prosecution. A jury awarded damages of over $98,000 after a four-day trial. This case was brought under a little-used Virginia Statute that allows individuals to bring… Read More »
Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Your Church?
Social media has become the new popular form of communication in the 21st Century. In 2013, 70 percent of churches have a Facebook account and 21 percent use Twitter. The proper use of social media can be a great benefit to your church by providing information to your membership and furthering your involvement in… Read More »
The Affordable Care Act’s Employer Mandate & How It Impacts Nonprofits and Small Businesses
Over the past two years, a recurring theme in legal news has been the current Administration’s changes to, interpretations of, and delays in implementing President Obama’s flagship Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) otherwise known as “Obamacare.” This law has wide-reaching implications for many industries across the United States and impacts each individual American’s private life. Two of… Read More »
Wired Worship: Is Your Church Ready to Make Wi-Fi Available to the Congregation?
The availability of free wireless internet (“Wi-Fi”) is rapidly expanding, with free Wi-Fi available in coffee shops, parks, and libraries. Many churches want to add their campus to the growing list of “hotspots” (locations where free Wi-Fi is available) in the community, as both a friendly gesture to their congregations and as an aid to their ministries. However, before a… Read More »
Granting Money from a U.S. Charity or Church to a Foreign Individual or NGO: Substantial Risks and Best Practices
Many times, conducting charitable work necessitates broadening an organization’s reach, which often in turn requires working outside of the United States. Unfortunately, while these endeavors are exciting, they are complicated and risky for the churches and nonprofit organizations who are involved. Of the many types of risks involved, one of the primary areas involves… Read More »
BREAKING LEGAL NEWS: Hobby Lobby and What It Means for Churches and Nonprofits
The Supreme Court recently delivered a decisive, though limited, victory for religious liberty in its decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) contraceptive mandate violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a statute that was passed… Read More »
