Law

The nearly two-year debate over how much criminal restitution embattled Richmond businessman Michael Hild must pay to his victims appears to have been decided.

A legal battle between two local financial advisory firms has taken a detour into federal appeals court before the original case has even had a chance to fully play out.

Whiteford Taylor & Preston has added a floor in James Center, while Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black has gone back to being known simply as Woods Rogers.

The fire at a western Henrico office building that displaced several local small businesses has now ignited a legal battle over who’s to blame for the blaze.

“I went from everyone in the business world disowning me and not talking me. My mental state was not great and now I’m at an all-time high and I don’t know how to deal with it,” said Eugene Thomas.

If the amount is approved by the court and Hild’s conviction survives his appeal, the restitution would be owed to four lenders and the bankruptcy estate of his former company.

The original complaint from Joe Alexander alleged he was the victim of a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation after he parted ways with Martin in late 2017 amid sexual harassment claims made against him by agency employees.

After four decades of testifying as an expert witness in personal injury and divorce cases, Gray Broughton has found a way to keep working while easing toward retirement.

Ten months after his longtime personal assistant died under mysterious circumstances, the well-known Richmond businessman is beginning to get some answers about the more than $1 million he claims she stole from him.

The new additions are from a Norfolk-based firm that’s in the process of building out its first permanent Richmond, a move that won’t be halted because of the departures.