2020 Legal Elite — Civil Litigation Profile

Title: Director
Other legal specialties: Workers’ compensation
Birthplace: Altoona, Pennsylvania
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Penn State University; law degree, University of Richmond
Spouse: Kenneth G. Hutcheson
Children: Twin boys, Mercer and Harrison, 11
First job as a lawyer: Law clerk for the Hon. John F. Daffron Jr. and the Hon. Michael C. Allen in Chesterfield County Circuit Court
Fan of: Penn State football
Recently read book: “The Guest List,” by Lucy Foley
Hobbies or pastimes: Horseback riding, watching my sons play football, soccer, basketball and lacrosse
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere in the Caribbean
Career mentors: Judge Michael C. Allen, Roger L. Williams at Williams & Lynch, James W. Morris III and Philip B. Morris at Morris & Morris
You handle a lot of cases with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. How has the pandemic impacted your caseload?
The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission has done a wonderful job conducting hearings remotely as well as in person, so there is not a tremendous backlog of cases that have already been filed. However, I suspect that over the next several months, we may see a reduction of workers’ compensation claims being filed due to the fact that many people were out of work during the pandemic and therefore sustained fewer physical injuries. By contrast, however, we are starting to see a number of COVID-related filings for medical personnel and first responders and are still awaiting legislation from the General Assembly directing how those cases should be analyzed.
What has been your most memorable civil litigation case?
My most memorable case was my first-ever solo jury trial. Irving Blank was opposing counsel and the professionalism and courtesy that he afforded me as a young, female litigator was inspiring and has never been forgotten.

See more from our 2020 Legal Elite package:

• 2020 Legal Elite Civil Litigation list
• The 21st edition of the Virginia Business Legal Elite

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