Employment & Criminal Rights
Representative Employment and Civil Rights Cases
THESE CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.
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Many of the employment cases and civil rights matters handled by the firm are resolved on a confidential basis.

Jones v. Southpeak Interactive Corp. (E.D. Va. 2013) – Jim Thorsen brought whistleblower claims under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on behalf of a CFO who was fired after raising concerns about financial irregularities. The jury awarded $737,000, including damages for emotional distress, and $354,127 in attorneys’ fees which was upheld by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Minor v. Bostwick Laboratory, Inc., 669 F.3d 428 (4th Cir., 2012) – Jim handled this Fair Labor Standards retaliatory discharge case including the successful appeal and later resolved the case for his client for $400,000.

Arrested for Bottled Water (2014) – In a widely reported case, Jim Thorsen represented a University of Virginia student who was detained and arrested following an incident in which Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents apparently mistook a case of sparking water for beer. The case was resolved for $212,500 and contributed to important changes in alcohol control policies and procedures.

Eley v. Allen, - Robert Allen represented a former principal and his wife in a $12 million lawsuit against a police officer in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District, as reported by WAVY-TV.

Keuch v. Beers, Case No. 3:17cv00146 (E.D. Va. 2017) - Robert Allen obtained a sizable settlement in a lawsuit involving claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and malicious prosecution claims against a police officer who allegedly became romantically involved with his client's wife during the course of several criminal proceedings. 

Brown v. Mitchell, et al., 308 F. Supp.2d 628 (E.D. Va. 2004) and 327 S.Supp.2d 615 (E.D. Va. 2004) – Jim Thorsen brought civil rights claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for 8th Amendment Due Process violations and medical malpractice claims arising from the death of an inmate due to bacterial meningitis. The case was settled August 2004 for $670,000.

Cates v. Garland, et al., Westmoreland Co. Cir. Ct., Case No. 05-32 (May 24, 2006) – In this malicious prosecution case against a County deputy sheriff, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Jim’s client in the amount of $502,820.
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Vaughan v. Ferries, U.S. Dist. Ct., E.D. Va. (Richmond Div. 1996) – Jim Thorsen obtained a jury verdict of $1,050,000 for his client in a case involving claims of excessive force and defamation against a police officer defamation case. Amount of award by jury: $1,050,000

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