Wilder-Morrissey case to be heard by judge July 24
7/21/2017, 11:45 a.m.
The heavyweight legal fight between former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and former Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey is set to resume Monday, July 24.
Richmond Circuit Judge Bradley B. Cavedo is to consider whether to dismiss a lawsuit by Mr. Morrissey or allow it to proceed. Mr. Morrissey is seeking legal fees that he alleged Mr. Wilder failed to pay.
Mr. Morrissey claims that Mr. Wilder never paid the legal bills when he hired Mr. Morrissey to represent his planned National Slavery Museum in Fredericksburg against that city’s efforts to sell the property because of unpaid property taxes.
Mr. Wilder is seeking dismissal of the suit, claiming that Mr. Morrissey and his firm agreed to represent him without charge. He also claims that even if he owed Mr. Morrissey’s law firm, the time period in which Mr. Morrissey’s firm was entitled to sue has passed.
Mr. Wilder’s motion was set to be heard in May, but had to be continued when the assigned judge, Circuit Judge Phillip L. Hairston, recused himself unexpectedly, requiring the appointment of another judge. — JEREMY M. LAZARUS
