Ranked in 2 Practice Areas
1

Band 1

Litigation: General Commercial

Virginia

8 Years Ranked

1

Band 1

Litigation: Appellate

Virginia

3 Years Ranked

About

Provided by Monica Monday

USA

Practice Areas

Appellate, Municipal & Local Government, Business Litigation, Healthcare, Commercial Torts, Regulatory/Administrative Representation

Career

Monica Monday is the Chairperson of Gentry Locke’s Executive Board and heads the firm’s Appellate practice. Monica served as Managing Partner of the firm from 2013-2022. Monica represents her clients in Virginia’s state and federal appellate courts across a wide variety of cases, including commercial and business disputes, healthcare, property, personal injury, local government matters, domestic relations and more. In 2015, Monica was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers — only the fifth Virginia attorney to be so honored. Monica is ranked (Band 1) in Chambers USA, Virginia, for Appellate and General Commercial Litigation. She has been described by Chambers USA as having “a commanding reputation as ‘one of the go-to practitioners’ for appellate work” (2018) and as being “held in high esteem as a leading appellate lawyer.” (2022). She has been recognized among Virginia’s Top 10 Lawyers, Virginia’s Top 50 Women Lawyers, and Virginia’s Top 100 Lawyers by the Thomson Reuters’ Virginia Super Lawyers, and on the Best Lawyers in America and Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite lists and was a “Leaders in the Law” honoree by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

Professional Memberships

Member, Judicial Council of Virginia (2013-Present)

The Virginia Bar Association Appellate Practice Section Council (2009-Present), Past Chair (2019-2021)

Chair, Appellate Committee of the Virginia State Bar Litigation Section (2009-2019)

Fourth Circuit Rules Advisory Committee; Chair (2017-2018), Virginia Representative (2013-2017)

Member, Virginia Model Jury Instruction Committee (2012-2020)

Member, Boyd-Graves Conference (2011-Present); Member, Steering Committee (2016-Present)

Board of Directors, The Harvest Foundation (2015-Present)

Member, Special Committee to Study Appellate Mediation in Virginia

Member, American National Bankshares, Inc., Virginia State Banking Board (2019-present)

Board of Trustees, Virginia Museum of Natural History (2009-2019)

Member, Virginia Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court (2015-Present)

Member, Virginia State Bar Professionalism Course Faculty (2013-2016)

Member, Blue Ridge Regional Library Board (2007-2011)

American Heart Association Roanoke “Go Red for Women” Luncheon; Chair (2017-2018), Co-chair (2016-2017)

Board of Governors, The Virginia Bar Association (2011-2014)

Board of Directors, Virginia Law Foundation (2005-2011)

Member, The Ted Dalton American Inn of Court (2003-2012); Secretary (2007-2012)

Chair, Committee on Federal Judgeships, Western District, Virginia Bar Association (2004-2008, 2015-Present)

Member, Nominating Committee, The Virginia Bar Association (2004); Membership Committee (2003-2005)

Board of Directors, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (2001-04)

Co-Chair, Judicial Screening Committee, Virginia Women Attorneys Association (2001-03)

Member, Board of Trustees, Adult Care Center (1999-04)

Executive Committee, Young Lawyers Division, Virginia Bar Association (1998-02)

President, William & Mary Law School Association (2000-01)

Law Clerk to the Honorable Lawrence L. Koontz, Jr., Chief Judge, Court of Appeals of Virginia (1991-93)

Experience

Court affirmed removal of co-executors of an estate. Galiotos v. Galiotos, 300 Va. 1, 858 S.E. 2d 653 (2021)

Court affirmed summary judgment for local government in suit alleging discriminatory taxation. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co. v. City of Roanoke, 916 F.3d 315 (4th Cir. 2019)

Court affirmed the trial court’s decision to set aside a multi-million dollar verdict in a government contracting case. CGI Federal, Inc. v. FCi Federal, Inc., 295 Va. 506, 814 S.E.2d 183 (2018)

Court affirmed finding that property owners had a vested right to the use of their property. Board of Supervisors of Richmond County v. Rhoads, 294 Va. 43 (2017)

In question of first impression involving social host duty to child guest, obtained affirmance of motion to strike. Lasley v. Hylton, 288 Va. 419, 764 S.E.2d 88 (2014)

Court reversed dismissal of defamation case. Cashion v. Smith, 286 Va. 327, 749 S.E.2d 526 (2013)

Obtained reversal of workers’ compensation case because the Full Commission lacked authority to decide the case with a retired Commissioner. Layne v. Crist Electrical Contractor, Inc., 62 Va. App. 632, 751 S.E.2d 679 (2013)

Obtained reversal of jury verdict in maritime case relating to asbestos exposure. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Minton, 285 Va. 115, 737 S.E.2d 16 (2013)

Obtained reversal of decision striking down water and sewer rates that town charged to out-of-town customers; won final judgment in favor of town. Town of Leesburg v. Giordano, 280 Va. 597, 701 S.E.2d 783 (2010)

In question of first impression, obtained dismissal of domestic relations appeal based upon terms of property settlement agreement, which waived the right of appeal. Burke v. Burke, 52 Va. App. 183, 662 S.E.2d 622 (2008)

Obtained reversal of award of writ of mandamus against municipal land development official in subdivision application case. Umstattd v. Centex Homes, G.P., 274 Va. 541, 650 S.E.2d 527 (2007)

Secured affirmance of compensatory and punitive damages awards for breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and conspiracy. Banks v. Mario Industries of Virginia, Inc., 274 Va. 438, 650 S.E.2d 687 (2007)

Successfully defended a jury verdict for homeowners association for damages stemming from the negligent construction of a septic system. Westlake Properties, Inc. v. Westlake Pointe Property Owners Association, Inc., 273 Va. 107, 639 S.E.2d 257 (2007)

Successfully represented an individual in a premises liability case involving a question of first impression. Taboada v. Daly Seven, Inc., 271 Va. 313, 626 S.E.2d 428 (2006), adhered to on rehearing, 641 S.E.2d 68 (2007)

Obtained a new trial on damages for injured plaintiff in a medical malpractice case. Monahan v. Obici Medical Management Services, 271 Va. 621, 628 S.E.2d 330 (2006)

Successfully defended decision of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission awarding attendant care benefits for employee who lost both arms in an industrial accident and assessing a large award of attorneys fees against opposing party. Virginia Polytechnic Institute v. Posada, 47 Va. App. 150, 622 S.E.2d 762 (2005)

Obtained reversal of summary judgment in federal court negligence case. Blair v. Defender Services, 386 F.3d 623 (4th Cir. 2004)

Successfully defended compensatory and punitive damages jury verdict in malicious prosecution case. Stamathis v. Flying J, Inc., 389 F.3d 429 (4th Cir. 2004)

Obtained reversal of summary judgment in state malicious prosecution case representing chairman of a school board. Andrews v. Ring, 266 Va. 311, 585 S.E.2d 780 (2003)

Obtained new trial for individual in medical malpractice case. Sawyer v. Comerci, 264 Va. 68, 563 S.E.2d 748 (2002)

Successful defense of jury verdict in a construction case interpreting statutory warranty for new dwellings. Vaughn, Inc. v. Beck, 262 Va. 673, 554 S.E.2d 88 (2001)

Successfully defended federal court’s dismissal of First Amendment constitutional challenge in voting rights case. Jordahl v. Democratic Party of Virginia, 122 F.3d 192 (4th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1077 (1998)

Education

College of William and Mary

JD, BA

Awards

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Appellate (Virginia)

Chambers

2021

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Appellate (Virginia)

Chambers

2022

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Commercial (Virginia)

Chambers

2017

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Commercial (Virginia)

Chambers

2018

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Commercial (Virginia)

Chambers

2019

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Commercial (Virginia)

Chambers

2020

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Commercial (Virginia)

Chambers

2021

Leading Individual Band 1, Litigation: Commercial (Virginia)

Chambers

2022

Virginia Business Power 500

Virginia Business

2020

Virginia Business Power 500

Virginia Business

2021

Virginia Business Power 500

Virginia Business

2022

Roanoke Lawyer of the Year for Appellate Practice

Best Lawyers in America

2020

Legal Elite for Appellate Law

Virginia Business Magazine

2019

Legal Elite for Appellate Law

Virginia Business Magazine

2020

Legal Elite for Appellate Law

Virginia Business Magazine

2021

Legal Elite for Appellate Law

Virginia Business Magazine

2022

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