David L. Parker, P.C., lawyers in Harrisonburg, VA, Virginia

Alternative Causes of an Injury

Ordinarily, a plaintiff in a personal injury action has the burden of proving that a defendant's negligence caused his or her injury. However, when a plaintiff proves that two defendants have committed negligent acts, and it is impossible to determine which act caused the plaintiff's injury, the burden of proof shifts to the defendants. Each defendant has the burden of proving that his or her negligent act did not cause the plaintiff's injury.More...

The Military Claims Act

When a person has died, has sustained injuries, or has sustained property damage as a result of the activities of military personnel or civilians who are employed by the military, the person or his or her representative may be entitled to recover damages from the federal government under the Military Claims Act (MCA). More...

Federal Tort Claims Act - Discretionary Function Exception

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) bars claims that are based on the performance or failure to perform a discretionary function or duty of a federal agency or federal government employee, even if there is an abuse of discretion. According to this "discretionary function exception," a personal injury action cannot be filed under the FTCA if the employee's negligence arises from a discretionary function or the execution of a statute or regulation.More...

The Collateral Source Rule

The "collateral source rule" is a legal rule that prevents a defendant from introducing evidence that a plaintiff has received payment from a third party. For example, a plaintiff is injured in an automobile accident with a defendant. More...

Nominal Damages

If an injured party is harmed or has property that is damaged by the intentional or negligent conduct of a defendant, he may bring an action to recover damages. Sometimes, the injured party recovers a verdict but only nominal, or minimal, damages. More...