Articles by Matthew Barakat

Family of Inmate Who Died by Suicide in Virginia Jail Gets $1.75M From Psychiatrist

The family of a man who died by suicide at a Virginia jail after his antipsychotic medication was discontinued has received a $1.75 million settlement in a civil lawsuit. Records at U.S. District Court in Alexandria show that the family …

Virginia School System Says Former Student’s Sex Assault Lawsuit Is a Fraud

Allegations that a northern Virginia seventh-grader was repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted at her school more than a decade ago were totally fabricated, lawyers for the school system contend in a court filing seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit she …

Virginia High School Admissions Case May Prompt Next Affirmative Action Ruling

A federal appeals court’s ruling last month about the admissions policy at an elite public high school in Virginia may provide a vehicle for the U.S. Supreme Court to flesh out the intended scope of its ruling Thursday banning affirmative …

Appeals Court Upholds Revised Admissions Policy at Elite Virginia High School

A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of a new admissions policy at an elite public high school in Virginia that critics say discriminates against highly qualified Asian Americans. The 2-1 ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit …

Virginia Family Reaches $5M Settlement Over Park Police Shooting

The family of a northern Virginia man fatally shot by U. S. Park Police officers has reached a $5 million settlement in its civil lawsuit against the government. Two officers shot 25-year-old Bijan Ghaisar of McLean in November 2017 after …

Virginia County Judge Uses Slavery Law to Rule Frozen Embryos Are Property

Frozen human embryos can legally be considered property, or “chattel,” a Virginia judge has ruled, basing his decision in part on a 19th century law governing the treatment of slaves. The preliminary opinion by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Richard …

Virginia Jury Rejects Woman’s Claims Against Four Police Officers Over Sex Ring

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A jury on Friday rejected a woman’s allegations that a former police chief in Virginia and three other officers protected a prostitution ring that she said trafficked her. The eight-person civil jury found that the woman, …

Johnny Depp, Amber Heard Settle Defamation Appeals

Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have settled their defamation lawsuits following a high-profile trial earlier this year in which the former couple accused each other of physical and verbal abuse. Heard announced the settlement Monday on social media. Both …

Virginia County School Administrators Facing Trials Over Response to Sexual Assaults

Three separate trials will be held next year to adjudicate charges against the former superintendent of a northern Virginia school system as well as the system’s primary spokesman. Ex-Superintendent Scott Ziegler and spokesman Wayde Byard made initial appearances Tuesday in …

Report Blasts Virginia School System’s Handling of Sexual Assaults

A special grand jury convened at the request of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has issued a scathing report against a northern Virginia school system accusing it of mishandling a student who sexually assaulted classmates at two different high schools last …