Court Opinion

ID: 4538193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-02 13:21:12.144607+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:57:58.126850
License: Public Domain

VIRGINIA:
            
                      In the Court of Appeals of Virginia on 7XHVGD\ the QG day of -XQH
            
            
PUBLISHED

            5D\TXDQ%HUQDUG%DUQHV                                                                     $SSHOODQW
            
            DJDLQVW         &LUFXLW&RXUW1R&-
            
            &RPPRQZHDOWKRI9LUJLQLD                                                                   $SSHOOHH
            
            
                                           )URPWKH&LUFXLW&RXUWRIWKH&LW\RI1RUIRON
            
                                        %HIRUH-XGJHV3HWW\2¶%ULHQDQG6HQLRU-XGJH)UDQN
            
            
                   2Q0D\FDPH5D\TXDQ%HUQDUG%DUQHVE\FRXUWDSSRLQWHGFRXQVHODQGILOHGDPRWLRQ

            UHTXHVWLQJWKDWWKHFRXUWVHWSUHWULDOERQGLQWKLVFDVH

                    7KHUHXSRQFDPHWKH&RPPRQZHDOWKE\FRXQVHODQGILOHGDUHVSRQVHLQRSSRVLWLRQWKHUHWR

                   8SRQFRQVLGHUDWLRQZKHUHRIDQGDUHYLHZRIWKHUHFRUGLQWKLVUHJDUGDVGLVFXVVHGEHORZWKH&RXUW

            GHQLHV%DUQHV¶VPRWLRQIRUERQG

                                                              %$&.*5281'

                   %DUQHVZDVDUUHVWHGRQ)HEUXDU\ZKHQKHZDVDMXYHQLOH'XULQJWKDWLQFLGHQWSROLFH

            RIILFHUVVDZ%DUQHVZLWKD\RXQJHUPDQDQGVWRSSHGWRLQYHVWLJDWHDEXOJHLQ%DUQHV¶VSRFNHWWKDWORRNHGOLNH

            DJXQ7KHWZRPHQIOHGEXWZHUHFDXJKWDVKRUWGLVWDQFHDZD\7KHEXOJHKDGGLVDSSHDUHGIURP%DUQHV¶V

            SRFNHWDQGDILUHDUPZDVIRXQGZLWKLQWKURZLQJGLVWDQFHRIZKHUH%DUQHVKDGEHHQ7KHILUHDUPZDVD

            ORDGHGFDOLEHUKDQGJXQZLWKDURXQGLQWKHFKDPEHU%DUQHVZDVFKDUJHGZLWKWKUHHPLVGHPHDQRUV

            SRVVHVVLRQRIDKDQGJXQUHFNOHVVKDQGOLQJRIDILUHDUPDQGFDUU\LQJDFRQFHDOHGZHDSRQ

                   2Q)HEUXDU\WKH1RUIRON-XYHQLOHDQG'RPHVWLF5HODWLRQV'LVWULFW&RXUW ³-'5´ RUGHUHG

            %DUQHVGHWDLQHGSHQGLQJDQDGMXGLFDWRU\KHDULQJRQ0DUFK2Q0DUFKWKH&RPPRQZHDOWK

            UHTXHVWHGDFRQWLQXDQFH-'5JUDQWHGWKHFRQWLQXDQFHDQGDIWHUKROGLQJDGHWHQWLRQKHDULQJRUGHUHG%DUQHV

            GHWDLQHGXQWLOWKHQHZDGMXGLFDWLRQGDWHRI0DUFK%DUQHVGLGQRWDSSHDOHLWKHUWKH)HEUXDU\RU
WKH0DUFKGHWHQWLRQRUGHUV'XHWRWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWRI9LUJLQLD¶VGLUHFWLYHVLQUHVSRQVHWRWKH

&29,'MXGLFLDOHPHUJHQF\WKHFDVHZDVFRQWLQXHGRYHU%DUQHV¶VREMHFWLRQWR-XQH2Q0DUFK

DGHWHQWLRQKHDULQJZDVDJDLQKHOGLQ-'5DQG%DUQHVZDVDJDLQRUGHUHGGHWDLQHGXQWLOWKHDGMXGLFDWLRQ

GDWH

        %DUQHVDSSHDOHGWKDWRUGHUWRWKH1RUIRON&LUFXLW&RXUW$KHDULQJZDVKHOGLQFLUFXLWFRXUWRQ$SULO

'XULQJWKDWKHDULQJ%DUQHVFDOOHGKLVSDUROHRIILFHUZKRUHFRPPHQGHGKHEHUHOHDVHGWRHOHFWURQLF

KRPHPRQLWRULQJ%DUQHVZDVRQSDUROHIRUDDGMXGLFDWLRQRIGHOLQTXHQF\IRUDWWHPSWHGPDOLFLRXV

ZRXQGLQJFRQVSLUDF\DQGXVHRIDILUHDUPLQWKHFRPPLVVLRQRIDIHORQ\%DUQHVDGGLWLRQDOO\KDGEHHQ

DGMXGLFDWHGGHOLQTXHQWLQ'HFHPEHUIRUEXUJODU\DQGODUFHQ\RIDILUHDUPDQGLQ-XQHIRU

WUHVSDVVLQJDQGGHVWUXFWLRQRISURSHUW\

        %DUQHV¶VPRWKHUDOVRWHVWLILHGDWWKHKHDULQJ6KHWHVWLILHGWKDWVKHDQGKHUVRQKDGEHHQVKRWDWLQWKH

QHLJKERUKRRGDQGWKDWVKHKDGPRYHGIURP1RUIRONWR&KHVDSHDNHWRHVFDSHWKHYLROHQFH6KHWHVWLILHGWKDW

ZKHQWKHRIIHQVHVKDGRFFXUUHGRQ)HEUXDU\VKHZDVLQWKHSURFHVVRIPRYLQJWRKHUQHZUHVLGHQFH

LQ&KHVDSHDNHZKHUH%DUQHVZRXOGUHVLGHLIUHOHDVHG0RUHRYHUVKHWHVWLILHGWKDWVKHLV³FXUUHQWO\QRW

ZRUNLQJGXHWRWKH&RYLG´DQGLVWKHUHIRUH³KRPHDOOWKHWLPHQRZ´

        $IWHUKHDULQJWKHWHVWLPRQ\DQGSURIIHUHGHYLGHQFHWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWDVNHGWKHGHIHQVHDWWRUQH\WR

H[SODLQ-'5¶VEDLOSROLF\LQFDVHVUHJDUGLQJILUHDUPVDQGDVNHGIRUDFRS\RIWKH-XYHQLOH'HWHQWLRQ

$VVHVVPHQW,QVWUXPHQWIRU%DUQHVZKLFKZDVQRWLQWKHILOH7KH&RPPRQZHDOWKWKHQQRWHGWRWKHMXGJH

WKDW%DUQHVKDGKDGWKUHHGHWHQWLRQKHDULQJVEHIRUHWKUHHGLIIHUHQW-'5MXGJHVDQGWKDWHDFKKDGGHQLHG

UHOHDVH$IWHUGHIHQVHFRXQVHO¶VDUJXPHQWWKHMXGJHDVNHG³+RZFRPH\RXZHUHQ¶WDEOHWRFRQYLQFHWKH

MXYHQLOHFRXUWMXGJHDWDQ\RIWKHVHWKUHHGHWHQWLRQKHDULQJV"´7KHMXGJHFRQWLQXHG³0\RQO\SRLQWLVZKDW

PHVVDJHDUHZHJRLQJWRVHQG"'HWHQWLRQKHDULQJVWKH\¶UHJRLQJWREHDSSHDOHGHYHU\VLQJOHWLPH"(YHU\

WZHQW\RQHGD\VZH¶UHJRLQJWRKHDUDQRWKHURQHRIWKHVHXSKHUHLQFLUFXLWFRXUW"´,QUHVSRQVHWRGHIHQVH

FRXQVHO¶VDUJXPHQWWKDWFLUFXLWFRXUWZDVDde novoUHYLHZWKHMXGJHDFNQRZOHGJHGWKDWLWZDVde novo

UHYLHZ³QRGRXEWDERXWLW´+RZHYHUWKHFRXUWWKHQSURPSWO\DVNHG³LIDQ\LVVXHV>KDG@FKDQJHGDWDOO´
                                                       
VLQFHWKHSULRU-'5GHWHQWLRQKHDULQJV7KHFLUFXLWFRXUWGHQLHGERQGVD\LQJ³,¶PJRLQJWROHDYHLWXSWRWKH

MXYHQLOHFRXUWMXGJHVWRVRUWWKLVRXW$WWKHQH[WGHWHQWLRQKHDULQJ\RXFDQFHUWDLQO\SUHVHQWWKHVDPH

HYLGHQFH´%DUQHVWKHQDVNHGWKLV&RXUWWRUHYLHZWKHGHQLDORIERQGSXUVXDQWWR5XOH$ E 

                                                      $1$/<6,6

          ³7KLV&RXUWUHYLHZVDWULDOFRXUW¶VGHFLVLRQZKHWKHUWRJUDQWEDLOIRUDEXVHRIGLVFUHWLRQ´

&RPPRQZHDOWKY'XVH9D  5XOH$ ³$QRUGHUVHWWLQJRUGHQ\LQJEDLORUVHWWLQJWHUPVRI

DERQGRUUHFRJQL]DQFHVKDOOEHUHYLHZDEOHIRUDEXVHRIGLVFUHWLRQ´ ³>7@KHDEXVHRIGLVFUHWLRQVWDQGDUG

UHTXLUHVDUHYLHZLQJFRXUWWRVKRZHQRXJKGHIHUHQFHWRDSULPDU\GHFLVLRQPDNHU¶VMXGJPHQWWKDWWKHFRXUW

GRHVQRWUHYHUVHPHUHO\EHFDXVHWKHUHYLHZLQJFRXUWZRXOGKDYHFRPHWRD>GLIIHUHQW@UHVXOWLQWKHILUVW

LQVWDQFH´'XVH9DDW TXRWLQJ/DZORUY&RPPRQZHDOWK9D  

                  7KLVSULQFLSOHQHFHVVDULO\LPSOLHVWKDWIRUVRPHGHFLVLRQVFRQVFLHQWLRXVMXULVWV
                  FRXOGUHDFKGLIIHUHQWFRQFOXVLRQVEDVHGRQH[DFWO\WKHVDPHIDFWV²\HWVWLOO
                  UHPDLQHQWLUHO\UHDVRQDEOH7KLVEHOOVKDSHGFXUYHRIUHDVRQDELOLW\JRYHUQLQJRXU
                  DSSHOODWHUHYLHZUHVWVRQWKHYHQHUDEOHEHOLHIWKDWWKHMXGJHFORVHVWWRWKHFRQWHVW
                  LVWKHMXGJHEHVWDEOHWRGLVFHUQZKHUHWKHHTXLWLHVOLH
     
7KRPDVY&RPPRQZHDOWK9D$SS   TXRWLQJ+DPDGY+DPDG9D$SS

  7KH6XSUHPH&RXUWKDVLGHQWLILHGWKUHHZD\VLQZKLFKDWULDOFRXUWDEXVHVLWVGLVFUHWLRQZKHQ

     LWIDLOVWRFRQVLGHUDUHOHYDQWIDFWRUWKDWVKRXOGKDYHEHHQJLYHQVLJQLILFDQWZHLJKW  LWFRQVLGHUVDQG

JLYHVVLJQLILFDQWZHLJKWWRDQLUUHOHYDQWRULPSURSHUIDFWRURU  LWFRQVLGHUVDOOSURSHUIDFWRUVDQGQR

LPSURSHURQHVEXWLQZHLJKLQJWKRVHIDFWRUVWKHFRXUWFRPPLWVDFOHDUHUURULQMXGJPHQW/DZORU9D

DW

          $VWDWXWRU\SUHVXPSWLRQRIUHOHDVHH[LVWVIRUMXYHQLOHVFKDUJHGZLWKRIIHQVHV$MXYHQLOHWDNHQLQWR

FXVWRG\³VKDOOLPPHGLDWHO\EHUHOHDVHGWRWKHFDUHFXVWRG\DQGFRQWURORIVXFKMXYHQLOH¶VSDUHQWRU

RWKHUVXLWDEOHSHUVRQDEOHDQGZLOOLQJWRSURYLGHVXSHUYLVLRQDQGFDUHIRUVXFKMXYHQLOH´&RGH

+RZHYHUDMXYHQLOHPD\EHGHWDLQHGLQDVHFXUHIDFLOLW\³XSRQDILQGLQJE\WKHMXGJHWKDW

WKHUHLVSUREDEOHFDXVHWREHOLHYHWKDWWKHMXYHQLOHFRPPLWWHGWKHDFWDOOHJHG´DQG

                                                         
             7KHMXYHQLOHLVDOOHJHGWRKDYH D YLRODWHGWKHWHUPVRIKLVSUREDWLRQRU
             SDUROHZKHQWKHFKDUJHIRUZKLFKKHZDVSODFHGRQSUREDWLRQRUSDUROHZRXOG
             KDYHEHHQDIHORQ\RU&ODVVPLVGHPHDQRULIFRPPLWWHGE\DQDGXOW
               E FRPPLWWHGDQDFWWKDWZRXOGEHDIHORQ\RU&ODVVPLVGHPHDQRULIFRPPLWWHG
             E\DQDGXOWRU F YLRODWHGDQ\RIWKHSURYLVLRQVRIDQGWKHUHLV
             FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHWKDW
             
                      D&RQVLGHULQJWKHVHULRXVQHVVRIWKHFXUUHQWRIIHQVHRURIIHQVHVDQG
                      RWKHUSHQGLQJFKDUJHVWKHVHULRXVQHVVRISULRUDGMXGLFDWHGRIIHQVHVWKH
                      OHJDOVWDWXVRIWKHMXYHQLOHDQGDQ\DJJUDYDWLQJDQGPLWLJDWLQJ
                      FLUFXPVWDQFHVWKHOLEHUW\RIWKHMXYHQLOHFRQVWLWXWHVDFOHDUDQG
                      VXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWWRWKHSHUVRQRUSURSHUW\RIRWKHUV
                      
                      E7KHOLEHUW\RIWKHMXYHQLOHZRXOGSUHVHQWDFOHDUDQGVXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDW
                      RIVHULRXVKDUPWRVXFKMXYHQLOH¶VOLIHRUKHDOWK>@
                      
&RGH $ )LQDOO\

              7KHFULWHULDIRUFRQWLQXLQJWKHMXYHQLOHLQGHWHQWLRQRUVKHOWHUFDUHDVVHWIRUWKLQ
              WKLVVHFWLRQVKDOOJRYHUQWKHGHFLVLRQVRIall personsLQYROYHGLQGHWHUPLQLQJ
              ZKHWKHUWKHFRQWLQXHGGHWHQWLRQRUVKHOWHUFDUHLVZDUUDQWHGSHQGLQJFRXUW
              GLVSRVLWLRQ6XFKFULWHULDVKDOOEHVXSSRUWHGE\FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHLQ
              VXSSRUWRIWKHGHFLVLRQQRWWRUHOHDVHWKHMXYHQLOH
              
&RGH '  HPSKDVLVDGGHG 

         $VWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWKDVREVHUYHGWKHDSSHOODWHIUDPHZRUNIRUH[SHGLWHGUHYLHZRIGHFLVLRQV

JUDQWLQJRUGHQ\LQJEDLO³H[LVWVEHFDXVHRIWKHYLWDODQGXUJHQWLPSRUWDQFHRIEDLOGHFLVLRQVWRWKHOLEHUW\

LQWHUHVWVRIWKHDFFXVHGDVZHOODVWRWKHVDIHW\RIWKHSXEOLF6KDQQRQY&RPPRQZHDOWK9D

     7KHYLWDODQGXUJHQWLPSRUWDQFHRIEDLOGHFLVLRQLVLQQRZD\GLPLQLVKHGZKHQWKHDFFXVHGLVD

MXYHQLOH*UDQWHG³>W@KHUHLVQRJHQHUDOUHTXLUHPHQWWKDWWULDOFRXUWVPXVWVWDWHIRUWKHUHFRUGWKHUHDVRQV

XQGHUO\LQJWKHLUGHFLVLRQV´,G

                  1HYHUWKHOHVVLQOLJKWRIWKHSXEOLFSROLF\XQGHUO\LQJWKHODZVSURYLGLQJIRU
                  SURPSWDQGPHDQLQJIXOUHYLHZRIEDLOGHFLVLRQVDFRXUWPDNLQJVXFKDGHFLVLRQ
                  KDVDGXW\WRDUWLFXODWHWKHEDVLVRILWVUXOLQJVXIILFLHQWO\WRHQDEOHDPRYLQJ
                  FRXUWWRPDNHDQREMHFWLYHGHWHUPLQDWLRQWKDWWKHFRXUWEHORZKDVQRWDEXVHGLWV
                  GLVFUHWLRQ
                  
,G


            
              2WKHUFULWHULDOLVWHGLQ&RGHIRUVXSSRUWLQJGHWHQWLRQDUHQRWUHOHYDQWWRWKHFDVHEHIRUH
XV
                                                           
         +HUHWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWIDLOHGLWVGXW\WRDUWLFXODWHWKHEDVLVRILWVUXOLQJ,QRUGHUWRFRQWLQXH%DUQHV¶V

GHWHQWLRQWKHFRXUWZDVUHTXLUHGWRPDNHDILQGLQJ³WKDWWKHUH>ZDV@SUREDEOHFDXVHWREHOLHYHWKDW>%DUQHV@

FRPPLWWHGWKHDFWDOOHJHG´6HH&RGH $ 7KHFRXUWIDLOHGWRDUWLFXODWHWKDWILQGLQJ7KHFRXUW

ZDVDOVRUHTXLUHGWRILQGE\³FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFH´WKDWUHOHDVLQJ%DUQHVZRXOG³SUHVHQWDFOHDUDQG

VXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWRIVHULRXVKDUP´WRKLPVHOIRURWKHUV6HH&RGH $  7KHFRXUWIDLOHGWR

DUWLFXODWHWKDWILQGLQJ0RUHRYHUWKHFRXUWZDVUHTXLUHGWRGHWHUPLQHWKDWWKHGHWHQWLRQGHFLVLRQZDV

³VXSSRUWHGE\FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHLQVXSSRUWRIWKHGHFLVLRQQRWWRUHOHDVHWKHMXYHQLOH´6HH&RGH

 ' 7KHFRXUWIDLOHGWRDUWLFXODWHWKDWLWZDVDSSO\LQJD³FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJ´VWDQGDUGDQGWR

UHIHUHQFHWKHHYLGHQFHXVHGWRVXSSRUWWKHGHFLVLRQQRWWRUHOHDVH%DUQHV6HH6KDQQRQ9DDW

    ILQGLQJFRQFOXVRU\VWDWHPHQWVUHJDUGLQJWKHVWDQGDUGRIUHYLHZDQGILQGLQJVZKLFKLVPRUHWKDQSURYLGHGLQ

WKLVFDVHWREHLQVXIILFLHQW 7KHFLUFXLWFRXUW¶VIDLOXUHWRLQFOXGHWKHVHWKLQJVLQWKHUHFRUGPDNHVLW

³LPSRVVLEOHIRU>WKLV&RXUW@WRGHWHUPLQHIURPWKHFLUFXLWFRXUW¶VUXOLQJZKDWLIDQ\FRQVLGHUDWLRQRUZHLJKW

WKHFLUFXLWFRXUWPLJKWKDYHJLYHQWRWKHVWDWXWRU\SUHVXPSWLRQ´IRUUHOHDVHDQGWKHIDFWXDOVXSSRUWIRUWKH

VWDWXWRU\FULWHULDLQ&RGH6HH,GDW7KXVZHKROGWKDWWKHWULDOFRXUWGLGQRW³DUWLFXODWH

WKHEDVLVRILWVUXOLQJVXIILFLHQWO\WRHQDEOH>WKLV&RXUW@WRPDNHDQREMHFWLYHGHWHUPLQDWLRQWKDW>LW@KD>G@QRW

DEXVHGLWVGLVFUHWLRQ´,GDW

         7KDWFRQFOXVLRQKRZHYHUGRHVQRWHQGRXUDQDO\VLV$VWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWH[SODLQHGLQ6KDQQRQ

³ZKHUHLWLVLPSRVVLEOHWRGHWHUPLQHZKDWFRQVLGHUDWLRQRUZHLJKWWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWPLJKWKDYHJLYHQWR

>UHTXLUHGRURWKHUZLVHUHOHYDQWIDFWRUV@´ZHDUH³required WRORRNDWWKHUHFRUGPDGHLQWKH>FLUFXLW@FRXUWWR


            
              7KHFLUFXLWFRXUW¶VFRPPHQWVUHJDUGLQJSULRUGHWHQWLRQKHDULQJVLQ-'5FRXOGQRWKDYHEHHQWKH
EDVLVRILWVGHFLVLRQ-'5¶V0DUFKGHWHQWLRQGHFLVLRQZDVLUUHOHYDQWWRDde novoUHYLHZRIWKDW
RUGHUE\FLUFXLWFRXUW'HWDLOVRI-'5¶VXQDSSHDOHGGHWHQWLRQGHFLVLRQVRQ)HEUXDU\DQG0DUFK
PLJKWKHOSWKHFRXUWIRFXVLWVLQTXLU\LQWRUHOHYDQWIDFWVDQGFLUFXPVWDQFHV+RZHYHULWLVLQFXPEHQWXSRQ
³DOOSHUVRQVLQYROYHGLQGHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHUWKHFRQWLQXHGGHWHQWLRQRUVKHOWHUFDUHLVZDUUDQWHGSHQGLQJ
FRXUWGLVSRVLWLRQ´WRFRQGXFWDIUHVKUHYLHZRIZKHWKHUWKHFULWHULDRXWOLQHGLQ&RGHLV
³VXSSRUWHGE\FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHLQVXSSRUWRIWKHGHFLVLRQQRWWRUHOHDVHWKHMXYHQLOH´&RGH
 ' -'5¶VSULRUGHWHQWLRQGHFLVLRQVWKHUHIRUHFRXOGQRWIRUPDSURSHUEDVLVIRUDFLUFXLWFRXUW
GHFLVLRQQRWWRUHOHDVHDMXYHQLOH
                                                         
DVFHUWDLQZKHWKHUWKHFRQFOXVLRQWKH>FLUFXLW@FRXUWUHDFKHGKDGIDFWXDOVXSSRUW´,GDW HPSKDVLV

DGGHG VHHDOVR'XVH9DDW FRQVLGHULQJWKHHQWLUHUHFRUGXQGHUDQDEXVHRIGLVFUHWLRQVWDQGDUGLQD

SUHWULDOEDLODSSHDOWKUHH\HDUVDIWHUWKHGHFLVLRQLQ6KDQQRQZDVLVVXHG ,QWKHDEVHQFHRIDVWDWHGVWDQGDUG

RIUHYLHZRUEDVLVIRUWKHGHFLVLRQ³ZHH[DPLQHWKHUHFRUGPDGHLQWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWWRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHULW

VXSSRUWVWKHFRQFOXVLRQUHDFKHG>E\WKDWFRXUW@´,GDW:HPXVWDIILUPWKHGHFLVLRQRIWKHFLUFXLWFRXUW

LIDIWHUUHYLHZRIWKHUHFRUGZH³ILQGWKDW>WKHFLUFXLWFRXUW¶V@FRQFOXVLRQQHFHVVDULO\LPSOLFLWLQLWVKROGLQJ

>GLGQRWFRQVWLWXWH@DQ>DEXVH@RIGLVFUHWLRQ´,GDW

       ,QWKLVFDVHWRFRQWLQXH%DUQHV¶VGHWHQWLRQWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWKDGWRILQGE\FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJ

HYLGHQFHWKDWWKHUHZDVSUREDEOHFDXVHWREHOLHYH%DUQHVFRPPLWWHGWKHFULPHVIRUZKLFKKHZDVFKDUJHG

7KHUHFRUGVXSSRUWVVXFKDILQGLQJ7KHXQFRQWHVWHGSURIIHURIIDFWVZDVWKDW%DUQHVZDVVHHQE\RIILFHUV

ZLWKDEXOJHLQKLVSRFNHWWKDWORRNHGOLNHDJXQ%DUQHVIOHGWKHVFHQH$ORDGHGJXQZDVIRXQGQHDUZKHUH

WKHEXOJHLQ%DUQHV¶VSRFNHWP\VWHULRXVO\GLVDSSHDUHG7KHUHFRUGVXSSRUWVDILQGLQJRISUREDEOHFDXVH

0RUHRYHULWLVXQFRQWHVWHGWKDWWKHDOOHJHGDFWVZRXOGKDYHEHHQD&ODVVPLVGHPHDQRULIFRPPLWWHGE\DQ

DGXOWDQGWKHDOOHJHGDFWVYLRODWHGWKHWHUPVRIKLVSDUROHIRUFKDUJHVWKDWZRXOGKDYHEHHQDIHORQ\LI

FRPPLWWHGE\DQDGXOW6HH&RGH $  D  E 

       7KHFLUFXLWFRXUWDOVRKDGWRILQGWKDW%DUQHV¶VUHOHDVHZRXOGEHDFOHDUDQGVXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWWRRWKHUV

RUDFOHDUDQGVXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWRIVHULRXVKDUPWRKLPVHOI6HH&RGH $  7KHUHFRUG

VXSSRUWVDILQGLQJRIERWKFULWHULD,QPDNLQJWKHILUVWILQGLQJDFRXUWLVGLUHFWHGWR³>F@RQVLGHU>@WKH

VHULRXVQHVVRIWKHFXUUHQWRIIHQVHRURIIHQVHV´DQG³WKHVHULRXVQHVVRISULRUDGMXGLFDWHGRIIHQVHV´WR

GHWHUPLQHLIUHOHDVHRIWKHMXYHQLOH³FRQVWLWXWHVDFOHDUDQGVXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWWRWKHSHUVRQRUSURSHUW\RI

RWKHUV´&RGH $  D +HUH%DUQHVFRPPLWWHGVHYHUDOVHULRXVRIIHQVHVLQWKHVSDFHRIWKUHH

\HDUVWKDWHQGDQJHUHGWKHSHUVRQDQGSURSHUW\RIRWKHUV7KHVHRIIHQVHVLQFOXGHGEXUJODU\DQGODUFHQ\RID


            
              $QXQSXEOLVKHGRSLQLRQIURPDSDQHORIWKLV&RXUWUHFHQWO\FDPHWRWKHVDPHFRQFOXVLRQ6HH
&RPPRQZHDOWKY-RKQVWRQ1R 9D&W$SS$SU +RZHYHUEHFDXVHWKDW
PHPRUDQGXPRSLQLRQFDUULHVQRSUHFHGHQWLDOYDOXHZHGRQRWUHO\RQLWVKROGLQJLQRXUDQDO\VLV
                                                         
ILUHDUPLQPDOLFLRXVZRXQGLQJDQGXVHRIDILUHDUPLQDQGWUHVSDVVDQGGHVWUXFWLRQRISURSHUW\LQ

1RWDEO\HYHQZKLOH%DUQHVZDVRQSDUROHIRUPDOLFLRXVZRXQGLQJZLWKDILUHDUPKHFOHDUO\YLRODWHG

KLVSDUROHFRQGLWLRQVDVZHOODVWKHODZE\WUDQVSRUWLQJDORDGHGILUHDUPLQKLVSRFNHWWKURXJKDUHVLGHQWLDO

QHLJKERUKRRG+LVSDVWFRQGXFWKDVSXWQXPHURXVRWKHUSHRSOHLQKDUP¶VZD\DQGKLVFRQWLQXHGSDWWHUQRI

FRQGXFWLVFOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHWKDWKLVGLVUHJDUGIRUWKHVDIHW\RIRWKHUVZRXOGFRQWLQXHXSRQKLV

UHOHDVH0RUHRYHULQWKHFXUUHQWLQFLGHQW%DUQHVZDVZDONLQJZLWKD\RXQJHUSHUVRQZKRZDVWKHQ

HQGDQJHUHGZKHQWKHWZRIOHGSROLFH/LNHZLVH%DUQHV¶VDGMXGLFDWLRQRIFRQVSLUDF\WRJHWKHUZLWKPDOLFLRXV

ZRXQGLQJLQVKRZV%DUQHV¶VSURSHQVLW\IRUMRLQLQJRWKHUVLQGDQJHURXVXQODZIXOVLWXDWLRQV7KXVWKH

UHFRUGVXSSRUWVZLWKFOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHWKDW%DUQHV¶VUHOHDVHZRXOGFRQVWLWXWHDFOHDUDQG

VXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWWRRWKHUV

       )XUWKHUPRUHWKHUHFRUGVKRZVWKDW%DUQHV¶VUHOHDVHZRXOGSUHVHQWDFOHDUDQGVXEVWDQWLDOWKUHDWRI

VHULRXVKDUPWRKLVRZQOLIHRUKHDOWK6HH&RGH $  E $FFHSWLQJWKHGHIHQVH¶VSURIIHURI

IDFWVDQG%DUQHV¶VPRWKHU¶VWHVWLPRQ\DWWKHYHU\WLPH%DUQHV¶VPRWKHUZDVVWULYLQJWRPRYH%DUQHVWRD

VDIHUQHLJKERUKRRG%DUQHVZDVURDPLQJWKHVWUHHWVZLWKDORDGHGILUHDUPDQGWKHQIOHHLQJSROLFHZKLOHKH

SXOOHGWKHJXQIURPKLVSRFNHWDQGIOXQJLWDZD\2QHFDQVFDUFHO\HQYLVLRQDPRUHGDQJHURXVVLWXDWLRQIRU

%DUQHVWRSODFHKLPVHOILQ$QGWKHSURPLVHRISDUHQWDOFXVWRG\GRHVQRWOHVVHQWKHWKUHDWRIVHULRXVKDUPWR

%DUQHV¶VOLIHDQGKHDOWK+HZDVSUHVXPDEO\XQGHUSDUHQWDOFXVWRG\ZKHQKHDFTXLUHGWKHJXQKHZDV

FDUU\LQJ+LVPRWKHUWHVWLILHGVKHZDVRXWRIZRUNEHFDXVHRIWKH&29,'SDQGHPLF,WLVUHDVRQDEOHWR

FRQVLGHUVKHZLOOUHWXUQWRHPSOR\PHQWZKHQZRUNUHVWULFWLRQVHQGOHDYLQJ%DUQHVZLWKOHVVVXSHUYLVLRQ

4XHVWLRQVIURPWKHEHQFKUHYHDOWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWFRQVLGHUHGHOHFWURQLFPRQLWRULQJZKLFKZDVUHFRPPHQGHG

E\WKHSDUROHRIILFHU7KHFRXUWFRXOGDFFHSWWKH&RPPRQZHDOWK¶VDUJXPHQWWKDWLI%DUQHVGHFLGHGWRYLRODWH

KRPHFRQILQHPHQWFRQGLWLRQVDVKHYLRODWHGSDUROHFRQGLWLRQVE\FDUU\LQJDORDGHGJXQWKHQQHLWKHUDQ

HOHFWURQLFGHYLFHQRUKLVPRWKHU¶VFRPPDQGLVOLNHO\WRVWRSKLP0RUHRYHU%DUQHVZRXOGEHUHVLGLQJLQD

QHZKRPHLQDQHZWRZQWKDWZDVHVWDEOLVKHGE\KLVPRWKHUDIWHUKLVGHWHQWLRQ7KHFRXUWFRXOGFRQVLGHUWKH

                                                     
SRVVLELOLW\%DUQHVZRXOGDEDQGRQWKHQHZUHVLGHQFHWRUHWXUQWRWKHIDPLOLDULW\RIKLVROGQHLJKERUKRRGDQG

IULHQGV

       $IWHUUHYLHZLQJWKHUHFRUGPDGHLQWKHFLUFXLWFRXUWZHFRQFOXGHWKDWWKHFULWHULDVHWIRUWKLQ&RGH

IRUWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VGHFLVLRQWRFRQWLQXH%DUQHV¶VVHFXUHGHWHQWLRQZHUHVXSSRUWHGE\FOHDUDQG

FRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFH7KHWULDOFRXUWDFWHGZLWKLQWKH³EHOOVKDSHGFXUYH´RIUHDVRQDEOHGHFLVLRQVLWFRXOG

UHDFKLQGHWHUPLQLQJ³ZKHUHWKHHTXLWLHVOLH´7KRPDV9D$SSDW$FFRUGLQJO\WKHPRWLRQIRU

ERQGKHUHE\LVGHQLHG

                                                   &21&/86,21

       )RUWKHUHDVRQVVWDWHGDERYH%DUQHV¶VPRWLRQIRUERQGLVGHQLHG

       7KLVRUGHUVKDOOEHSXEOLVKHGDQGFHUWLILHGWRWKHFLUFXLWFRXUW


                                          $&RS\
                                               7HVWH
                                                                    &\QWKLD/0F&R\&OHUN

                                                         original order signed by the Chief Deputy Clerk of the
                                                  %\   Court of Appeals of Virginia at the direction
                                                           of the Court
                                                               'HSXW\&OHUN

                                                      