Dustin is a skilled litigator who finds creative solutions for his clients in Virginia state and federal courts. He excels in using the depth and breadth of his knowledge to achieve cost-effective resolution of disputes. Some of the nation’s most successful companies have trusted him to represent their interests throughout Virginia, at the Fourth Circuit, and at the U.S. Supreme Court. His varied practice includes:
Transportation Litigation
Because of his representation of marine terminals, trucking companies, railroads, transportation suppliers, and an airport, Dustin appreciates the complexities of intermodal transportation. His membership and participation in the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Maritime Law Association, the Southeast Admiralty Law Institute, the Virginia Maritime Association, and the Virginia Bar Association Transportation Law Section allow him to keep abreast of the current legal landscape and other changes in the transportation industry. He has authored articles in the “The Transportation Lawyer” and the “Maritime & International Trade Guide.”
Representative cases include:
Personal Representative of Coutlakis v. [Railroad], Record No. 160277 (Va. Sup. Ct.): argued before the Supreme Court of Virginia on behalf of one of the nation’s largest railroads on a unique issue under Virginia tort law. His oral argument audio is here.
Bulk Juliana, Ltd., et al., v. [Fortune 500 Company], Case No. 16-26 (U.S. Sup. Ct.): was the primary author of the Brief in Opposition to a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case in which the Court requested briefing from the U.S. Solicitor General.
Rabenstine v. National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Inc. et al., Case No. 4:14-cv-78, 2015 WL 3470191 (E.D. Va. 2015): authored brief obtaining summary judgment on behalf of law enforcement officer asserting unique application of qualified immunity doctrine.
[Fortune 500 Company] v. M/V Hebei Shijiazhuang, 783 F.3d 507 (4th Cir. 2015): primary author in briefing which resulted in affirmance of a grant of summary judgment on maritime lien law issues.
Commercial Litigation
Both Virginia-based small businesses and some of the nation’s largest companies have relied upon Dustin’s advice to resolve commercial disputes. He has an aptitude for understanding the business realities of a conflict and seeking creative resolutions in lieu of prolonged litigation. But when litigation is the only choice, Dustin has the experience to bring the case to verdict, through appeal, and beyond.
Representative cases include:
[General Contractor] v. Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, et. al, Case No. 18-1529 (4th Circuit): was engaged as appellate counsel to prepare the briefing before the Court of Appeals after the trial court made an unfavorable summary judgment ruling, and then argued the case to the Fourth Circuit panel. His oral argument audio is here.
[Car Dealership] v. Voltin, Case No. CL11-1065 (Norfolk Circuit): Obtained more than a $800,000 verdict in a fraud case against the plaintiff’s Chief Financial Officer and defended the verdict through appeals and a bankruptcy proceeding.
JAAAT Technical Services, LLC, v. [Fortune 1000 Defendant], Case No. 3:15-cv-00235-MHL (E.D. Va.): defended and prosecuted claims related to five government contracts in multi-state litigation, including obtaining dismissal of this case through unique jurisdictional arguments related to federal enclave jurisdiction.
Corbin Bernsen v. [Advertising Agency], 885 F.Supp.2d 830 (Ed. Va. 2012), defended, through jury trial, an advertising company against breach of contract claims brought by Hollywood actor.
EDVA Local Counsel
Working with some of the nation’s largest firms and companies as a key resource for cases in the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), Dustin has appeared in more than 50 cases covering a wide variety of topics including patent, antitrust, maritime, employment, and contract matters. He has also provided advice in countless other cases for which he has not entered an appearance. As the editor of www.edvanorfolk.com, a blog dedicated to studying and monitoring the actions of the EDVA’s District Court in Norfolk, he is well-prepared to advise counsel throughout the country on how to file, prosecute, and try cases in the “Rocket Docket.” He also serves on the Board of the Tidewater Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Representative cases include:
G.D. Searle LLC et al v. Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al, 2:13-cv-00121-AWA-LRL: served as local counsel for an AMLAW100 firm and a generic pharmaceutical company in patent litigation regarding Celebrex®.
In Re: Zetia (Ezetimibe) Antitrust Litigation, 2:18-md-02836-RBS-DEM, in which he served as local counsel for a different AMLAW 100 firm and a different generic pharmaceutical company in patent litigation.
[Government Contractor] v. United States of America, 4:18-cv-00148-HCM-LRL, in which he served as local counsel for an AMLAW 200 firm in obtaining an emergency temporary restraining order and temporary injunction after his client was improperly denied renewal of its government contract.
Attorney Perspectives
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11 tips to survive your freshman year as an associate
April 8, 2021 -
Does the standard Virus Exclusion in an all-risk policy cover government-ordered COVID-19 shutdowns? Judges in the EDVA disagree.
December 11, 2020 -
Magistrate Judge Leonard holds that the FRCP Require Parties to Sign Authorizations
November 26, 2020 -
Non-EDVA Opinion of the Month: Candy Sticks and the 3rd Circuit
November 19, 2020 -
To Lawyers, “R&R” Doesn’t Only Refer to Rest and Relaxation
November 12, 2020 -
LOCAL FBA CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING on November 10, 2020
November 5, 2020 -
BOOOOO!
October 31, 2020 -
OYSTER FIGHT!
October 24, 2020 -
Let Your Fingers Fly—At Least in North Carolina
October 17, 2020 -
The Power of the Court Compels You: The Frequency and Result of Motions to Compel in the Norfolk and Newport News Divisions of the Eastern District of Virginia
October 12, 2020
Featured Posts
Speaking Engagements
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Virginia CLE | The Rocket Docket: Trying Cases in the Eastern District of Virginia
March 22, 2023
Recognition
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26 WRVB Attorneys Named “Top Lawyers” for Norfolk, Coastal Virginia Magazine
January 24, 2023 -
70 WRVB Attorneys Named to 2022 “Legal Elite”
November 29, 2022 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
January 1, 2022 -
Five Attorneys Named 2021 Virginia Super Lawyers ‘Rising Stars’
May 6, 2021 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected as 2020 Legal Elite
November 30, 2020 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Named 2020 Virginia Super Lawyers ‘Rising Stars’
May 7, 2020 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2020 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
November 25, 2019 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Named 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers ‘Rising Stars’
April 26, 2019 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Named 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers ‘Rising Stars’
May 10, 2018 -
Twenty-two Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as Top Lawyers
December 14, 2017 -
Vandeventer Black Recognized as a Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year
October 19, 2017 -
VANDEVENTER BLACK ATTORNEYS NAMED VIRGINIA SUPER LAWYERS “RISING STARS”
February 28, 2017